BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Visiting US Vice President Joe Biden says Washington and Paris have agreed to hand over the French-led military operation in Mali to a UN mission. It comes after his talks with French President Francois Hollande on issues concerning Mali, Syria and Iran.

Biden has hailed Hollande’s "decisiveness" in Mali and commended France’s leading role in the fight against terrorism. He says the US "stands with France and other partners in Mali " and "provides intelligence support, transportation for the French and African troops and refuelling capability for French aircraft."

He added that although the fight may be far from America’s borders, it is fundamentally in America’s interest. President Hollande has expressed his gratitude for the U.S. political and logistic support for the Mali operation.

(Source: CNTV.cn)