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French forces kill militants in Mali forest | French forces kill militants in Mali forest |
(about 11 hours later) | |
France says its forces in West Africa have killed or captured more than 20 militants in a forest near Mali's border with Burkina Faso. | France says its forces in West Africa have killed or captured more than 20 militants in a forest near Mali's border with Burkina Faso. |
A statement by its regional force said air and ground forces were involved. It did not identify the militant group. | A statement by its regional force said air and ground forces were involved. It did not identify the militant group. |
A French soldier was killed in the area earlier this month. | A French soldier was killed in the area earlier this month. |
Mali suffers frequent attacks by Islamist militants despite a French military operation in 2013 to drive jihadists from northern cities. | Mali suffers frequent attacks by Islamist militants despite a French military operation in 2013 to drive jihadists from northern cities. |
A French military spokesman said the militants had been targeted in the Foulsare forest, in the south-west of Gao province. | A French military spokesman said the militants had been targeted in the Foulsare forest, in the south-west of Gao province. |
On Saturday, Mali's National Assembly voted to extend a state of emergency by six months in a bid to quell an upsurge in attacks. | On Saturday, Mali's National Assembly voted to extend a state of emergency by six months in a bid to quell an upsurge in attacks. |
Violence has also intensified in neighbouring Burkina Faso. | Violence has also intensified in neighbouring Burkina Faso. |
In December, 12 soldiers were killed in an attack by militants near Burkina Faso's border with Mali. | In December, 12 soldiers were killed in an attack by militants near Burkina Faso's border with Mali. |
In January last year, 29 people, many of them foreigners, died in a attack on a hotel in the capital Ouagadougou. | In January last year, 29 people, many of them foreigners, died in a attack on a hotel in the capital Ouagadougou. |
France, the former colonial power in Mali, has deployed about 4,000 soldiers in the region to fight extremists. | France, the former colonial power in Mali, has deployed about 4,000 soldiers in the region to fight extremists. |
Burkina Faso: New militant frontier? |
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