Official: Mali military action 'inevitable'

PARIS -- The leader of West Africa's regional bloc said in an interview published Sunday that military intervention in Mali is "inevitable" within weeks if there's no quick change in the nation where Islamist extremists rule the north.

Alassane Ouattara, also the president of Ivory Coast, told the French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche that half the intervention force would be made up of Malian soldiers and would likely include soldiers from Niger, Nigeria, and perhaps countries such as Chad -- with logistical help from France and the United States. He defined logistical help as material support and counselors but said combat aircraft are needed.

Mr. Ouattara is the head of the West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS, which secured Mali's consent for an intervention.