The French Foreign Ministry on Wednesday called on the Malian government to urgently begin dialogue with the people of northern Mali, where French and Malian forces are giving chase to Islamist rebels, dpa reported.
Welcoming the adoption by Mali's parliament of a roadmap calling for elections, the ministry said the Malian government "should also begin discussions without further delay with legitimate representatives of the populations of the North" and "non-terrorist armed groups who recognize Mali's integrity."
The reference to "non-terrorist armed groups" appeared to refer to Tuareg nationalist groups.