Malian Interim President Dioncounda Traore asked the United Nations for "support and assistance" to resolve "the worst crisis since its existence", AFP quoted a Malian official source as saying on Tuesday (September 11th).
The letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was reportedly dated August 30th, two days before the Mali submitted another formal request for help to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The leader of the March 22nd coup in Mali said he supported Traore's efforts to reclaim the rebel-held north.
In an interview Monday night with Malian public TV station ORTM, Captain Amadou Sanogo discussed Traore's handling of the crisis.
"I must say that the interim president, Dioncounda Traore, the prime minister, Cheick Modibo Diarra, and myself are in sync," Sanogo said.
"He asked for technical equipment... to help the armed forces," the coup leader said. Foreign troops will provide logistical support when "the Malian armed forces feel they need help from their neighbours", Sanogo added.
ECOWAS defence and foreign ministers plan to meet in Abidjan on September 17th to discuss the Mali crisis.
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