U.S. Calls on Mali Rebels to End Fight

The United States called Tuesday on rebel forces in northern Mali to lay down their arms and for coup leaders to step aside, warning the country's territorial integrity was at stake.

As Islamist-allied Tuareg rebels rapidly advance though the African nation, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the United States was "deeply concerned" and looking at new ways to pressure the coup leaders.

"The United States urgently calls on all armed rebels in the north of Mali to cease military operations that compromise the Republic of Mali's territorial integrity," Nuland told reporters.

She said that while the rebels had "legitimate political grievances," they should wait until the return of a civilian government and seek to settle differences through dialogue instead of violence.

"As civilian leadership is restored in Mali, we also urge all armed rebels to engage in dialogue with the civilian leaders in Bamako to find a non-violent path forward for national elections and peaceful coexistence," Nuland said.

Disgruntled troops swarmed the capital Bamako on March 22 and chased out of power President Amadou Toumani Toure, accusing him of failing to offer sufficient supplies to the army to put down the long-running Tuareg rebellion.

Tuareg rebels have taken advantage of the chaos to make quick advances. Radical Islamists over the weekend seized control of the fabled trading hub of Timbuktu and said they were imposing sharia law.

The African Union on Tuesday imposed travel bans and ordered a freezing of assets after the coup leader, Captain Amadou Sanogo, refused international calls to step down.

Nuland said the United States was "looking at" similar measures. Washington has already suspended tens of millions of dollars of aid to Mali, although it has maintained humanitarian assistance amid fears of severe hunger caused by drought.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Monday also hit the junta with harsh penalties, including closing Mali's borders to trade.

"We commend the ongoing leadership of the ECOWAS group to restore full civilian and constitutional rule," Nuland said.