Mali's army may be behind abuses; France minister

PARIS - France 24

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (C), flanked by General Christophe Gomart (L), listens to explanations from a member of the French special forces (R) during his visit to a sniper commando base on January 18, 2013 in the northwestern French town of Lanester. AFP photo

The Malian army may have committed human rights abuses as it continues its campaign against the Islamist militants that are in control of the country’s north, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told FRANCE 24 on Wednesday.

Drian said “there was a risk” that Mali’s troops were engaged in misconduct.

“We must be extremely vigilant, and the president of the republic (François Hollande) is counting on the Malian army’s leaders to hold themselves responsible for avoiding any abuses,” Drian told.

“It is their honour that is at stake,” he added.


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