AlHijjah 29, 1433, Nov 14, 2012, SPA -- Members of the African Union announced support for a regional force to restore security in north Mali, UPI cited an AU security commissioner as saying. Members of the Economic Community of West African States were called on by the U.N. Security Council to develop a plan for a neutral force for Mali. Militant groups claimed autonomy for northern Mali following a series of political upheavals early this year. Ramtane Lamamra, peace and security commissioner for the African Union, was quoted by the BBC as saying his bloc supported a contingent backed by troops from Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria. The French government said it would provide logistical and training support for the African mission.
