Mali hosts international meeting on the occupation of the north.

Those attending included New African Union head Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma  and the new UN envoy forthe Sahel
Romano Prodi. Representatives from 20 countries and  a number of organisations attended.At a separate meeting in Brussels, the EU said the situation in Mali threatened Europe.
 
The EU leaders said in a statement: "This situation poses an immediate threat to the Sahel region as well as to West and North Africa and to Europe,"  Reuters reported.

The UN Security Council last week adopted a resolution calling on Ecowas to provide it  with a detailed plan for
military  intervention within 45 days. However despite its heavy weight attendance little was achieved.

There was no resolution between those who believe intervention is necessary,like France and those who still want to give negotiation a chance. The Malians themselves are divided on this issue with rival demonstrations taking place in Bamako.

The former Junta and its leader Captain Amadou Sanogo still holds considerable power and influence and the government is itself divided.Whilstthe Malian government wants its army to lead the military assualton the North to liberate the territory its capacity to do so is very much in doubt and it may take months to train  and equip it. Its previous defeat and the collapse of resistance against the Turaeg rebel forces makes a new military effort psychologically difficult.

There is no clear consensus on the next course of action and the United States which for years provided training tothe Malian army is calling for the election of a new government  before taking military action, a clear expression of a lack of confidence in the current political situation in Bamako.

Continued delay may impel western governments who are threatened by terrorism to act against Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and its allies such as Mujao and Boko Haram who haveestablished themselves in the north of Mali..