Ashton confirms Mali crisis talks this week

(BRUSSELS) - EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Monday confirmed she had convened an extraordinary meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers to discuss the crisis in Mali.

"I have convened an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council this week to take stock of possible EU actions in support of Mali," Ashton said in a statement.

She said the EU role could include a mission to train and advise the Malian military, financial and logistical assistance for a planned force of African troops and "other direct support to the Malian government to help it cope with the current situation".

The talks are likely to take place Thursday, a well-informed source told AFP.

The emergency talks were announced shortly before in Paris by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius after a telephone conversation with Ashton.

"The EU remains in close touch with other international actors, including the African Union, ECOWAS (the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States) and the UN, to ensure a united international response to the situation," Ashton added.