Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Monday 3 July 2017

French president vows support in Africa anti-extremist fight

By BABA AHMED 12,000-strong U.N. peace-
Associated Press keeping mission in Mali,
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — which has become the
France’s president on Sun- deadliest in the world, and
day promised strong sup- France’s own 5,000-strong
port for a new multinational Barkhane military opera-
military force against ex- tion, its largest overseas
tremists in Africa’s vast Sa- mission. The new force is
hel region, saying the “ter- not meant to replace those
rorists, thugs and assassins” missions, Macron said.
need to be eradicated. “It’s a force that fights
President Emmanuel Ma- against terrorism, and the
cron, meeting in Mali with trafficking of drugs and hu-
leaders from the five re- mans.”
gional countries involved, Mali’s President Ibrahim
said France will provide mil- Boubacar Keita said each
itary support for operations of the Sahel countries
as well as 70 tactical vehi- would contribute 10 million
cles and communications, euros ($11 million) toward
operations and protective the force’s overall budget
equipment. of 423 million euros ($480
The 5,000-strong force will million). The European
be deployed by Septem- Union already has pledged
ber, and its funding will be French President Emmanuel Macron, left, stands next to Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar some 50 million euros ($57
finalized by then, Macron Keita during the opening session of G5 Sahel force summit in Bamako, Mali, Sunday, July 2, million) in support of the
2017. Macron is meeting with heads of state from five nations across Africa’s Sahel region to
said at a press conference. strengthen a new 5,000-strong regional force meant to counter a growing threat from extremists new G5 force. In mid-June,
The leaders of Mali, Mauri- who have targeted tourist resorts and other high-profile areas. the U.N. Security Council
tania, Niger, Burkina Faso (AP Photo/Baba Ahmed) unanimously approved a
and Chad — known as the force to attract more added. tions,” he said. The new an- resolution welcoming the
the G5 — must clarify their support from outside coun- “We cannot hide behind ti-terror force will operate deployment of the new
roles and contributions for tries, the French president words, and must take ac- in the region along with a force.q

Former Israeli PM Olmert leaves prison, heads to mall

By JOSEF FEDERMAN bars. shopping mall in Tel Aviv. behavior. Olmert had re- man Assaf Librati.
Associated Press Olmert, who served 16 “We are very happy, a cently been hospitalized Olmert will reportedly vol-
JERUSALEM (AP) — Former months for his role in a cor- great burden has been lift- after complaining of chest unteer at a food bank and
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ruption scandal, appeared ed and a great sorrow and pains. for a group that provides
left prison Sunday after gaunt and pale as he pain has ended,” Eti Livni, Under the terms of his re- medical aid to needy fami-
winning early release from walked out of the Maasi- a friend of Olmert’s, told lease, Olmert must perform lies.
a parole board, capping yahu prison in central Israel. Army Radio. volunteer work for several A few hours after his re-
an ignominious chapter Wearing a tight black Olmert, 71, was serving a months, report to police lease, a somber-looking
of Israeli history that trans- T-shirt, he was quickly 27-month sentence when twice a month and not Olmert, accompanied by
formed the once-powerful whisked away by security, the national parole board give interviews to the me- a bodyguard, was seen
leader into the first premier but later was seen mingling decided last week to re- dia or leave the country, walking around a shopping
ever to be placed behind with shoppers in an upscale lease him early for good said prison service spokes- mall in Tel Aviv. q