UNITED NATIONS, April 5 (UPI) -- Mutineers in Mali are expected to open the region to humanitarian aid groups and follow the letter of the law, the U.N. Security Council announced.
The Security Council passed a presidential statement calling on military leaders in Mali to allow for "unimpeded access of humanitarian aid" for the civilians affected by the developing security situation there.
Rebel Malian soldiers in late March forced President Amadou Toumani Toure from power after expressing concern for his handling of a Tuareg rebellion in the north of the country. The Security Council said an estimated 200,000 people were displaced by fighting in the country since January.
The Security Council restated its condemnation of the coup but took note of the junta's pledge during the weekend to restore constitutional rule.
"The council expects the mutineers to take immediate steps to effectively implement this commitment and will follow developments closely," the presidential statement read.
Malian ambassador to the United Nations Oumar Daou said the security situation in his country was "indescribable."
"Please help Mali find a way out of this crisis," he said after the presidential statement was read. "This is a matter of survival."
The U.S. State Department announced that it suspended $12.5 million in developmental aid to Mali in response to the coup.
