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France confirms Mali intervention France confirms Mali intervention
(35 minutes later)
President Francois Hollande says French troops are taking part in operations against Islamists in northern Mali.President Francois Hollande says French troops are taking part in operations against Islamists in northern Mali.
French troops "have brought... support to Malian units to fight against terrorist elements", Mr Hollande said. French troops "have brought support this afternoon to Malian units to fight against terrorist elements", he said.
He said the intervention was in line with international law, and had been agreed with Malian President Dioncounda Traore. Armed groups, some linked to al-Qaeda, took control of northern Mali in April.
Armed groups, some linked to al-Qaeda, took control of northern Mali in April after a coup in the capital, Bamako. Mr Hollande said the intervention complied with international law, and had been agreed with Malian President Dioncounda Traore. A state of emergency has been declared across the country.
The militants said this week that they had advanced further into government-controlled territory. The militants said on Thursday that they had advanced further into government-controlled territory, taking the strategic central town of Konna.
Mr Hollande said French military action had begun on Friday afternoon and would last "as long as necessary". Mr Hollande said French military action had been decided on Friday morning and would last "as long as necessary".
"Mali is facing an assault by terrorist elements coming from the north whose brutality and fanaticism is know across the world," Mr Hollande said."Mali is facing an assault by terrorist elements coming from the north whose brutality and fanaticism is know across the world," Mr Hollande said.
He said Mali's existence as a state was under threat, and referred to the need to protect its own population and 6,000 French citizens living there.He said Mali's existence as a state was under threat, and referred to the need to protect its own population and 6,000 French citizens living there.
Mr Hollande spoke shortly after the Malian army said that French troops, as well as soldiers from Nigeria and Senegal, were already in Mali.Mr Hollande spoke shortly after the Malian army said that French troops, as well as soldiers from Nigeria and Senegal, were already in Mali.
A Malian army official gave no details of their numbers or activities. No details of their numbers or activities have been given.
The UN had previously approved plans to send some 3,000 African troops to Mali to recapture the north if no political solution could be found, but that intervention was not expected to happen until September.The UN had previously approved plans to send some 3,000 African troops to Mali to recapture the north if no political solution could be found, but that intervention was not expected to happen until September.