UN Approves Mali Peacekeeping Force

Will be deployed in July

The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution to create a UN peacekeeping force for Mali.

The 12,600-strong force is intended to incorporate some 6,000 West African soldiers already in the country.

The resolution was proposed by France, which intervened militarily in January to drive out Islamist militants from Mali's northern desert region.

The UN force is to deploy at the beginning of July before planned nationwide elections.