United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says two separate peacekeeping forces will be needed in Mali to keep peace and take on any major combat.
In an advance copy of a report to be presented to the Security Council and obtained by VOA, Mr. Ban says an 11,000-member peacekeeping force eventually would take over the mission from an initial African-led force. He says because of the threat that remains in Mali, there must also be what he calls a "parallel force" to carry out major combat and counterterrorism duties.
French forces entered Mali in January to drive out Islamic extremists who seized control of the north last year.