During a conference held at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Tuesday, African leaders and international donors pledged more than USD455 million in aid to war in Mali.
This comes as Britain has also expressed readiness to send over 300 military personnel to Mali and West Africa to boost support for the France-led war in the country.
British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said on Tuesday that London has offered to deploy as many as 40 personnel to a European Union training mission in Mali.
Hammond added that the British government is also ready to dispatch up to 200 military personnel for a separate training force in neighboring English-speaking West African countries.
France launched the war on January 11 under the pretext of halting the advance of the fighters in the African country.
On Sunday, the French-led troopers took control of the Timbuktu airport. French troops and Malian forces had seized the town of Gao on Saturday after French warplanes and helicopters bombed areas in and around the town.
The United States, Canada, Britain, Belgium, Germany, and Denmark have also voiced support for the France-led war.
Analysts believe that behind the military campaign are Mali’s untapped resources, including oil, gold, as well as uranium.
MR/PKH/SS
Source Article from http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/01/29/286257/donors-pledge-455mn-to-mali-war/
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