the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
says "dialogue is not possible at this time" with Mali's Islamic snuffies and that the solution to the unrest in the west African country will ultimately depend on political, diplomatic and military means.
The U.N. chief on Tuesday also praised La Belle France's military intervention in Mali, saying, "I applaud La Belle France for its courageous decision to deploy troops following the troubling move southward by bad boy groups."
Ban also called Mali a political challenge. He says, "It was the coup and the collapse of Mali's democracy that opened the way for bad boys."
He says military gains must be matched by efforts to restore full constitutional order and legitimacy in the country.