Norway may send troops to Mali to prevent extremism in the area, said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide to Aftenposten .He said they will contribute to the EU by joining the French-led intervention force.
The formal decision about a military contribution to Mali has not been taken but Foreign Minister’s statements streghtened the possible Norwegian involvement in the war.
– We must avoid the extreme groups deeply entrenched in northern Mali. All experience shows that areas that are outside government control is a deployment area for terrorists, says Barth Eide in his interview with the Norwegian daily.
Five Norwegians missing in Algeria
Norway has opened discussion for military participation just after the attack against the gas plant, partly-owned by Norwegian Statoil in Algeria, where the fate of five Norwegians is uncertain. Algerian authorities announced on Monday that at least 37 hostages were killed during the attack.
