Japan to shut Mali embassy over security fears
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Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yutaka Yokoi announces that Japanese embassy in Mali would be closed at a press conference in Tokyo on Jan 23, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
TOKYO (AFP) - Japan said today it would close its embassy in Mali because of the worsening security situation in the war-torn country.
"Japan will temporarily close the embassy in Mali due to the worsening security in the country, including in the capital of Bamako. The staff will continue the operation in the embassy in France," a foreign ministry statement said.
It said embassy staff would move out as soon as preparations were completed, probably around Jan 27.
The decision came a day after Japan announced that at least seven of its citizens were killed in a hostage crisis in neighbouring Algeria.
