Egypt’s Mohammad Mursi opposes French intervention in Mali

By Areeb Hasni Jan 22nd, 2013 ( No Comment )

Cairo: Egypt’s Islamist president Mohammad Mursi on Monday said that he is opposed to France’s military intervention in Mali, taking an opposite position against the United States, European and African countries that are supporting it and planning to halt the al-Qaeda threat in Sahara desert.

According to Associated Press (AP), while addressing an Arab summit that opened Monday in Saudi Arabia, the president said that the intervention has created a “new conflict hotspot” that would separate the Arab north from its African neighbors to the south.

Mursi also declared his support for Algeria against threats to its security — a reference to Islamic militants’ takeover of a gas complex last week in the nation’s remote southeast. Thirty-eight hostages and 29 militants died in the attack.

The Masked Brigade, the group that claims to have masterminded the takeover, has warned of more such attacks against any country backing France’s involvement in Mali. French forces there are trying to help stop an advance by Islamic extremists.