非洲派駐馬裏軍隊將可能擴大一倍

U.N. officials say an African intervention force now deploying in Mali could double from its envisioned 3,300 troops, as more soldiers are needed to help regain control from Islamist militants holding the country's north.

Ivory Coast U.N. Ambassador Bamba, who represents the Economic Community of West African States at the United Nations, says nearly 1,000 troops already are in Mali. He urged the Security Council Tuesday to provide emergency financial and logistical support for the operation.

French and Malian forces have stopped a southward push by the militants, who seized the vast area of northern Mali following a March coup.

A VOA reporter in GAO says most Islamist militants have fled the city since last week, when French warplanes bombed their positions.聯合國官員說，由於需要更多軍人協助馬裏政府從盤踞北部的伊斯蘭激進分子手中奪回該地區的控制權，部署在馬裏的非洲干預部隊可能比預期的3300人擴大一倍。

科特迪瓦常駐聯合國代表巴姆巴是西非國家經濟共同體在聯合國的代言人。他說，目前已經在馬裏部署了將近1000名軍人。星期二，巴姆巴敦促聯合國安理會爲非洲部隊的行動提供緊急資金和後勤支援。

法國和馬裏軍隊已經阻止激進分子向南部推進。在去年3月政變後，激進分子控制了馬裏北部廣大地區。

在馬裏城市加奧的一名美國之音記者說，自法國戰機上星期轟炸伊斯蘭激進分子的陣地後，大部分激進分子已經逃離加奧。