By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 22 -- After the Mali meetings of the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Inner City Press asked French Ambassador Gerard Araud about civilian casualties, about French bombings halting humanitarian aid in Gao, Konna and Mopti, and about executions by France's allies in the Malian Army, which includes coup leader Amadou Sanogo.
Araud's response was that France negotiated Security Council resolution 2085, which includes some human rights language. But on his way into the Council in the morning, when Inner City Press asked when this resolution would be implemented,
Araud replied that France is not operating under Resolution 2085.
After quoting Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "applauding" France's intervention (while only "encouraging" ECOWAS and the African Union), Araud said France is urging Ban to quickly deploy monitors in Mali.
But what of those already executed by the Malian Army?
During the Security Council meeting, after a number of former French colonies praised Operation Serval, it was said that 6000 troops might become part of AFISMA. Chad's Ambassador told Inner City Press his country's 2000 would not necessarily all be part of AFISMA. So how many are?
Inner City Press asked Araud about the critiques of France's intervention leveled by Egypt and Turkey, among others. Araud replied only on the first, saying that President Morsi is coming to Paris. Well, Gaddafi went to Paris before him, and we see how that worked out. Watch this site.
