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| Mali conflict: France to increase troop numbers | Mali conflict: France to increase troop numbers |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Francois Hollande says more French troops are to be deployed in Mali to support the 750 in the country countering an Islamist insurgency. | President Francois Hollande says more French troops are to be deployed in Mali to support the 750 in the country countering an Islamist insurgency. |
| Mr Hollande, visiting the United Arab Emirates, said new air strikes overnight had "achieved their goal". | Mr Hollande, visiting the United Arab Emirates, said new air strikes overnight had "achieved their goal". |
| West African military chiefs will meet in Mali on Tuesday to discuss how an alliance with the French will work. | West African military chiefs will meet in Mali on Tuesday to discuss how an alliance with the French will work. |
| France began its intervention on Friday with the aim of halting the Islamists' advance south towards the capital. | France began its intervention on Friday with the aim of halting the Islamists' advance south towards the capital. |
| Late on Monday, the UN Security Council unanimously backed the intervention. | Late on Monday, the UN Security Council unanimously backed the intervention. |
| 'Really scared' | 'Really scared' |
| Mr Hollande, on a visit to the French regional military base known as Peace Camp in Abu Dhabi, said: "For now, we have 750 men and the number will increase. New strikes overnight achieved their goal." | Mr Hollande, on a visit to the French regional military base known as Peace Camp in Abu Dhabi, said: "For now, we have 750 men and the number will increase. New strikes overnight achieved their goal." |
| He said that assembling an African military force to work with the French troops could take a "good week". | He said that assembling an African military force to work with the French troops could take a "good week". |
| Interim President Dioncounda Traore knows that the presence of the French means that he and his troops have failed to contain the insurgency. | Interim President Dioncounda Traore knows that the presence of the French means that he and his troops have failed to contain the insurgency. |
| True, the spill-over from the war in Libya was not Mali's fault. Former Gaddafi loyalists returned here after the Libyan strongman was killed. Many well-armed men swelled the Islamist ranks. | True, the spill-over from the war in Libya was not Mali's fault. Former Gaddafi loyalists returned here after the Libyan strongman was killed. Many well-armed men swelled the Islamist ranks. |
| The spill-over from the conflict in Algeria was not Mali's doing either. Many of the Islamists are Algerian or linked to violent anti-Algiers campaigns. | The spill-over from the conflict in Algeria was not Mali's doing either. Many of the Islamists are Algerian or linked to violent anti-Algiers campaigns. |
| But geopolitics doesn't concern the homeless in Mali. They're half a million and counting. They want their government and their army to take charge. | But geopolitics doesn't concern the homeless in Mali. They're half a million and counting. They want their government and their army to take charge. |
| The French contingent is expected to rise to 2,500 in the coming weeks. | |
| Some 30 French tanks and armoured troop transport vehicles crossed into Mali from Ivory Coast on Monday, with a helicopter escort, witnesses said. | Some 30 French tanks and armoured troop transport vehicles crossed into Mali from Ivory Coast on Monday, with a helicopter escort, witnesses said. |
| The BBC's Mark Doyle in Bamako says the French want ground reinforcements from West African allies as soon as possible. | The BBC's Mark Doyle in Bamako says the French want ground reinforcements from West African allies as soon as possible. |
| He says regional military commanders are meeting in the Malian capital on Tuesday to discuss equipment needs and how a military alliance with France would work in practice. | He says regional military commanders are meeting in the Malian capital on Tuesday to discuss equipment needs and how a military alliance with France would work in practice. |
| Nigeria is set to lead the regional force, supplying 600 troops. Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, Senegal and Togo have also pledged soldiers. Britain has deployed troop transporters. | Nigeria is set to lead the regional force, supplying 600 troops. Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, Senegal and Togo have also pledged soldiers. Britain has deployed troop transporters. |
| The African force will be deployed under UN Security Council resolution 2085, which was passed in December and allows for a 3,000-strong mission. | The African force will be deployed under UN Security Council resolution 2085, which was passed in December and allows for a 3,000-strong mission. |
| French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says there will be a donor meeting towards the end of January to discuss the funding of the anti-Islamist intervention. | French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says there will be a donor meeting towards the end of January to discuss the funding of the anti-Islamist intervention. |
| He also denied the French intervention would boost al-Qaeda recruitment. | He also denied the French intervention would boost al-Qaeda recruitment. |
| "It's not encouraging terrorism to combat terrorism," he said. | "It's not encouraging terrorism to combat terrorism," he said. |
| 'Chase them away' | 'Chase them away' |
| French war planes have carried out a series of air strikes since the intervention began on Friday. | French war planes have carried out a series of air strikes since the intervention began on Friday. |
| Islamists are reported to have withdrawn from the major towns of Timbuktu and Gao. | Islamists are reported to have withdrawn from the major towns of Timbuktu and Gao. |
| One spokesman for the Ansar Dine militant group, Senda Ould Boumama, said the withdrawal was a "tactical retreat" to reduce civilian casualties. | One spokesman for the Ansar Dine militant group, Senda Ould Boumama, said the withdrawal was a "tactical retreat" to reduce civilian casualties. |
| One resident of Timbuktu told Agence France-Presse: "The mujahideen have left. They are really scared." | One resident of Timbuktu told Agence France-Presse: "The mujahideen have left. They are really scared." |
| However, Islamists seized the town of Diabaly, in government-controlled territory, on Monday. | However, Islamists seized the town of Diabaly, in government-controlled territory, on Monday. |
| When asked how long France's intervention would last, France's ambassador to Mali, Bernard Emie, replied: "We said weeks, but we said it's going to be as long as necessary at the same time because we know it might be a bit more." | When asked how long France's intervention would last, France's ambassador to Mali, Bernard Emie, replied: "We said weeks, but we said it's going to be as long as necessary at the same time because we know it might be a bit more." |
| Mali's Foreign Minister Tieman Hubert Coulibaly said: "We cannot simply push [the rebels] back, we have to chase them away." | Mali's Foreign Minister Tieman Hubert Coulibaly said: "We cannot simply push [the rebels] back, we have to chase them away." |
| On Monday, the UN Security Council convened in New York for an emergency meeting at France's request. | On Monday, the UN Security Council convened in New York for an emergency meeting at France's request. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he hoped the intervention would help restore "Mali's constitutional order and territorial integrity". | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he hoped the intervention would help restore "Mali's constitutional order and territorial integrity". |
| France's UN ambassador Gerard Araud said his country had the "understanding and support" of the 14 other Security Council members. | France's UN ambassador Gerard Araud said his country had the "understanding and support" of the 14 other Security Council members. |
| At least 11 Malian soldiers and a French helicopter pilot have died in Mali since Friday's intervention. More than 100 militants are reported to have been killed. | At least 11 Malian soldiers and a French helicopter pilot have died in Mali since Friday's intervention. More than 100 militants are reported to have been killed. |
| Islamist groups and secular Tuareg rebels took advantage of chaos following a military coup to seize northern Mali in April 2012. | Islamist groups and secular Tuareg rebels took advantage of chaos following a military coup to seize northern Mali in April 2012. |
| But the Islamists soon took control of the region's major towns, sidelining the Tuaregs. | But the Islamists soon took control of the region's major towns, sidelining the Tuaregs. |
| Ansar Dine began pushing further south last week, seizing the town of Konna. | Ansar Dine began pushing further south last week, seizing the town of Konna. |
| It has since been recaptured by Malian troops with French aerial support. | It has since been recaptured by Malian troops with French aerial support. |
| The battle for Mali previous slide next slide | The battle for Mali previous slide next slide |
| Are you in Mali or France? What are your thoughts on these latest developments? Send your comments and details of your experiences using the form below. | Are you in Mali or France? What are your thoughts on these latest developments? Send your comments and details of your experiences using the form below. |