France wants to let African forces take over the offensive against Islamist guerrillas in Mali as soon as possible, a top envoy said Monday as the UN Security Council began talks on the conflict.
As France pursued a fourth day of airstrikes against Al-Qaeda-linked forces, the UN said at least 30,000 people have fled the conflict zone and the militants were stopping people crossing into government territory.
France's UN Ambassador Gerard Araud said France has the "understanding and support" of the 14 other Security Council members, following a closed meeting of the body.
He added that all considered France's military action in Mali to be within international law and the UN Charter.
French troops arrived in Mali on Thursday to halt an advance by extremist fighters -- who have controlled the north of the country since March -- on the capital Bamako.
Araud did not give a deadline for the end of the operation but said France wanted to let an African force take the lead in the battle against the extremists "as quickly as possible."
The Security Council passed Resolution 2085 in December authorizing a 3,300-strong African force to help Mali's army reconquer the north. It also called for political efforts to end the crisis.
"Our goal is to go back to implementation of Resolution 2085 as quickly as possible so that the African forces and the Malian forces take care of the problem and that there is a political agreement," Araud told reporters.
Among the council's other permanent members, the United States and Britain are providing logistical help to French forces. Russia and China, meanwhile, have indicated they do not oppose France's blitz against the guerrillas.
The Security Council and other international bodies are most concerned about when African troops can get to Mali to support the country's enfeebled army, diplomats said.
The French envoy said troops from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal and Togo would start arriving within "days" but did not give a date for a full deployment.
The council has unanimously passed three resolutions on Mali, highlighting international concern about the groups linked to Al-Qaeda that took over the northern part of the African country.
When Resolution 2085 was passed, UN officials said that no offensive in northern Mali would be possible before September because of the time needed to rebuild the Malian army and the African nation's rainy season.
The United States has expressed doubts about the African force and the capability of the Malian army.
US Ambassador Susan Rice said the United States has "always had questions" about the West African force and that its concept may have to be completely reviewed.
Mali's army launched a coup in March that enabled the rebels to take over the north and has since virtually collapsed. Diplomats said Malian troops melted away in the face of the extremists' advance last week.
UN Resolution 2085 set benchmarks for the preparations of the Malian army, as well as efforts to secure a political resolution to the crisis before any offensive could be launched.
Meanwhile, the guerrillas are stopping thousands of refugees from fleeing the conflict zone, according to the UN.
An estimated 30,000 people have been displaced because of fighting in central and northern Mali over the past week, deputy UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey said.
"It is feared that the number of people affected may be greater as it has been reported that some Islamist groups have prevented people from moving south," he added.
