UN Secretary General Says African Force in Mali Should Be Converted into a Peacekeeping Mission

France is scheduled to begin withdrawing its troops next month

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - An African force currently in Mali should be converted into a U.N.peacekeeping operation and a separate combat force should be created to confront Islamist threats, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recommended to the Security Council on Tuesday.

The U.N.-backed African force in Mali is due to take over from France when it starts withdrawing its 4,000 troops from the country in late April.