 The European Union says the expulsion of France's ambassador to Mali is unjustified and will lead to the country being further cut off from member states. And Monday, Mali gave the French ambassador 72 hours to leave the country after hostile and outrageous comments by former Colonel-Power France about his transitional government. French government Foreign Minister Jean Le Dran had said that Mali's junta was out of control amid escalating tensions between the West African state and its European partners following two coups. The Mali government's request for the immediate withdrawal of the French ambassador in Bamako is unjustified and will further alienate Mali from its European partners. The EU stands in solidarity with France and also with Denmark, whose contingent had been subject to a decision to leave. The current situation requires respect for commitment and dialogue on the part of the Mali authorities and the negative spiral in which they have engaged can only be detrimental to the stability of the Mali itself, but also to the region.