Russian Government Calls For International Cooperation in Mali

Wants an end to the violence

MOSCOW, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- The international community must increase its efforts to prevent the conflict in Mali from escalating, Russian Foreign Ministry officials said Friday.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.N. Special Envoy to the region Romano Prodi said the international community must work together to end the fighting between Islamic extremists and Mali government troops, RIA Novosti reported.