U.N. Council Presses Mali to Launch Peace Talks

The U.N. Security Council on Thursday pressed Mali's new government to speed up efforts to start reconciliation talks with Tuareg and Arab groups to end the country's conflict.

"The Security Council reiterates its call for an inclusive and credible negotiation process open to all communities of the north of Mali, with the goal of securing a durable political resolution to the crisis and longterm peace and stability," said a council statement.

The call came as French forces launched operations in northern Mali against groups linked to al-Qaida that tried to take over the African nation last year.

U.N. leaders have already made calls for President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to launch the talks.

Longstanding bitterness between the Tuaregs and Arabs in the north of the country and the African majority that dominates the government has been blamed for last year's conflict.

While commending the government's "initial" efforts to launch national consultations and reforms, the 15-nation Security Council said it "encourages further steps towards consolidating stability, advancing inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation."

"The Security Council underscores the need to address the underlying causes of recurrent crises which have affected Mali, including governance, security, development and humanitarian challenges, and drawing lessons from past peace agreements," said the statement.

Tuareg rebels and Islamist groups took over the north of the country in 2012 and started an advance on the capital one year ago that forced a French military intervention.

With a U.N. peacekeeping force building up, the country has held elections but no formal talks with Tuareg groups who ended the conflict.