UN seeks sanctions against rebels in northern Mali

In the UN Security Council resolution adopted today, "member countries are invited to present the names of individuals, groups and entities associated with Al Qaeda in the north of Mali and in the Sahara region, so that sanctions can be imposed against them".

The Security Council condemned the "Defenders of the Faith" group for destroying the heritage of the ancient city of Timbuktu and called for the "blacklisting" of all those associated with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Extremists continue to destroy graves in Mali >>>

The "Guardians of the Faith" captured Timbuktu last Sunday, after driving out the Tuareg rebel faction.

The UN resolution expressed support for the efforts of regional organizations to resolve the crisis in Mali, but they have not yet been given a UN mandate to deploy African soldiers against the rebels in northern Mali.

French Ambassador to the UN Gérard Araud said the Security Council is awaiting an official request from the West African body ECOWAS for a mandate for the proposed stabilization force.

Aro added that the financing of that mission still needs to be considered, and that the Security Council will not give a mandate to EKOVAS "blindly".

The resolution also emphasizes concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Mali and calls for the re-establishment of the constitutional order, which was called into question after the March 21 coup d'état.

Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure resigned on April 8, after several weeks in hiding after the army staged a coup.

The military said it took power because Toure failed to deal with the Tuareg rebellion in the north of the country, which began in January.

After the coup d'état, the Tuareg managed to capture the three largest cities in the north and ended the independence of their "state of Azawad".