French and Malian troops over the past two weeks have driven insurgents out of some areas of north Mali they occupied last year. The militants imposed severe sharia (Islamic law) in areas they seized, authorising stoning for adulterers and amputations for thieves while forcing women to don veils.
Malian troops have also been accused by international human rights groups of carrying out revenge killings of suspected rebels and sympathisers. There have also been cases of looting and attacks by civilians against such individuals and their properties in the liberated cities of Gao and Timbuktu.
"The French government is ... in favour of rapidly deploying international observers to ensure that human rights are respected (in Mali)," Ayrault said in a speech to parliament.
"Our troops have been told to show extreme caution in responding to acts of violence. I point out though that the International Committee of the Red Cross has not so far confirmed acts that have been reported on this subject by some non-governmental organisations," he added.
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