Mali Islamists in Burkina Faso for mediation talks

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) ? A leader of an Islamist extremist group controlling northern Mali says that a delegation has arrived in Burkina Faso for talks with mediator President Blaise Compaore.

Abass Ag Intalla, a top official of the radical group Ansare Dine, told The Associated Press Saturday that he is in Ouagadougou as the head of a delegation meeting with Compaore, who has been appointed by the Economic Community of West African States to mediate in the Mali crisis.

Compaore is working to negotiate a resolution to the problems caused by the Islamists' separation of northern Mali from the rest of the country.

Ansar Dine's talks with Compaore come as France heads an international effort planning a military intervention to end the Islamists' occupation of northern Mali.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-11-03-Mali-Islamists/id-833ad29ddf1d4b608161339221e90c1c

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