Parliament Gives Mandate For Military Action In Mali, CAR

Parliament has granted power to the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government for one year to send troops to Mali and the Central African Republic.

Parliament voted on a motion on Thursday authorizing the government to send troops abroad to contribute to the EU's peacekeeping efforts in the region.

After the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in late January authorized European troops to use force in the Central African Republic to protect civilians caught up in 10 months of strife, the European Union requested Turkey to take part in efforts to halt the conflict in the country.

The EU's outgoing foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, wrote a letter to then-Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on Feb. 14 asking about the prospects of Turkish assistance.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)