Libya, Mali release joint statement

Libya and Mali have expressed their concern over the continued armed conflicts in several African areas, SANA reported.

In a joint statement issued in Tripoli on Thursday night in conclusion of the visit of the President of the Republic of Mali Alfa Omar Konari and members of the accompanying delegation, the two sides stressed that the conflict taking place in the "great lakes" and Congo is a result of the intervention of foreign imperialist forces.

The statement called for the need of the withdrawal of all "non grata" forces on the territories of Congo and deploying neutral African forces in order to ensure secure border relations between Congo and its neighboring countries and backing its legitimacy. The statement praised the efforts exerted by the countries of the coast and desert states and the other African good offices made to put an end to these conflicts so as to avoid its impacts and its adverse results on the peoples of the African continent.

The statement expressed the satisfaction of the two sides over the development of bilateral cooperation relations between their two countries. They stressed the need of taking all necessary measures to follow up the implementation of agreed upon items.