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Mali Islamists 'enter' Konna after clashes with army | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Militants Islamist in Mali say they have entered the key central town of Konna, advancing further into government-held territory. | |
This is the most serious fighting since Islamist groups captured the north from government forces in April 2012. | |
The army has not commented on the claim by the Ansar Dine group that its fighters are in Konna. | |
Earlier, it said it had advanced on Douentza, a central town held by another Islamist group. | |
A resident in Douentza said no fighting had so far taken place for control of the town, about 800km (500 miles) north-east of the capital, Bamako. | |
It was still in the hands of the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao), the resident said. | |
The UN has approved plans to send some 3,000 African troops to Mali to recapture the desert north but they are not expected to arrive until September 2013. | |
Some European leaders have voiced concerns that jihadists could use Mali's vast Islamist-controlled area, which is the size of France, to launch attacks on Europe. | |
'Vow to liberate' | |
Ansar Dine spokesman Sanda Abu Mohammed said their fighters had driven out government forces from Konna, about 700km (435 miles) north-east of Bamako. | |
"We are actually in Konna for the jihad [holy war]," he is quoted by AFP news agency as saying. | |
"We almost entirely control the city. Afterwards we are going to continue [southwards]." | |
Army spokesman Lt-Col Diarran Kone refused to comment on Ansar Dine's claim, AP news agency reports. | |
"I do not want to comment on the story much less our wounded military operations in the area," he is quoted as saying. | |
"But it is certain that we seek every opportunity to move northward and liberate the cities of Timbuktu , Kidal and Gao." | |
On Tuesday, African Union chairman Thomas Boni Yayi said Nato should send forces to Mali to fight the Islamists. | On Tuesday, African Union chairman Thomas Boni Yayi said Nato should send forces to Mali to fight the Islamists. |
He said the Malian conflict was a global crisis which required Nato to intervene, in the way it had done in Afghanistan to fight the Taleban and al-Qaeda. | He said the Malian conflict was a global crisis which required Nato to intervene, in the way it had done in Afghanistan to fight the Taleban and al-Qaeda. |
Nato troops should work alongside an African force in Mali, he said. | Nato troops should work alongside an African force in Mali, he said. |
Ansar Dine and Mujao have controlled most of northern Mali since last April. | |
They formed an alliance with Tuareg rebels, over-running government forces in the northern regions of Timbuktu, Kidal and Gao. | They formed an alliance with Tuareg rebels, over-running government forces in the northern regions of Timbuktu, Kidal and Gao. |
But their alliance quickly collapsed, with the Islamists capturing the region's main urban centres and marginalising the Tuareg rebels. | But their alliance quickly collapsed, with the Islamists capturing the region's main urban centres and marginalising the Tuareg rebels. |
The Islamists have been accused of war crimes and attempting to impose a strict version of Sharia, prompting fears the region could become a regional hub for al-Qaeda-linked militancy. | The Islamists have been accused of war crimes and attempting to impose a strict version of Sharia, prompting fears the region could become a regional hub for al-Qaeda-linked militancy. |
Islamist fighters in the historic city of Timbuktu have demolished several Sufi shrines and mosques - regarded as idolatrous by the hard-liners - raising international concern about the future of the Unesco world heritage site. | Islamist fighters in the historic city of Timbuktu have demolished several Sufi shrines and mosques - regarded as idolatrous by the hard-liners - raising international concern about the future of the Unesco world heritage site. |
Burkina Faso is trying to mediate an end to the conflict. | Burkina Faso is trying to mediate an end to the conflict. |