High-Level Delegations Meet for Talks on Mali Crisis

October 19, 2012

African Union Chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (front L) and Mali's President Dioncounda Traore attend a high level international meeting in Bamako, October 19, 2012. Regional leaders joined international organisations in Bamako on Friday trying to narrow their differences over whether al Qaeda-linked Islamists in the north of Mali should be dislodged via military intervention or a more gradual political approach. REUTERS/Adama Diarra

From VOA Learning English, this is IN THE NEWS in Special English.

High-level delegations met in Bamako, Mali for talks on the crisis in the country’s north. Representatives from the United Nations, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States met with Malian leaders to develop a plan.

Mali’s temporary president Dioncounda Traore urged representatives to act immediately to deal with the situation. He promised that the government would cooperate and work together with forces assisting in ousting the Islamic militants from the north.

Mali fell into a crisis in March, twenty-twelve, after the military ousted President Amadou Toumani Toure. Shortly after, Islamic militants with ties to al-Qaida seized control of the north. The militants want to enforce a severe version of Islamic law there. Recent reports from the north have documented human rights abuses by the militants. They perform public executions, use children as soldiers and force women into sex work. Women in many towns are forced to cover their faces and are banned from appearing in public with men. Smoking and music are also prohibited.