Radical islamists in Mali stood firm on Friday, beating back government forces and retaining the captured city of Konna, the AP reports:
The United Nations Security Council condemned the capture of Konna and called on U.N. member states to provide assistance to Mali “in order to reduce the threat posed by terrorist organizations and associated groups.”
A regional military intervention to take back northern Mali from the Islamists was not likely before September, though the advance by the Islamists creates pressure for earlier military action.
On Friday, French President Francois Hollande said the former colonial power is ready to help to the stop the Islamist extremists. He did not specify what assistance it is prepared to offer.
