Egyptian FM: No issue with France over Mali

Egypt has no disagreement with France over the French-led military campaign in Mali, aimed at pulling out Islamist militants from the country's northern region, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr said on Monday. "Egypt is part of Africa, and we are always supporting the unity of every African country," Amr said to reporters on the sidelines of a preparatory meeting of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit held in Cairo. "Egypt always backs political solutions for any dispute in Africa as long as this solution is possible," he added. Amr said the French intervention in Mali was decided upon a request from the Malian government, saying Egypt firmly stands with Mali's unity against "terrorism." The conflict in Mali is expected to be one of the main issues to be discussed at the OIC summit, alongside the Syrian crisis.