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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 said new air strikes overnight had "achieved their goal". One target was the town of Diabaly, which rebels entered on Monday. | Mr Hollande said new air strikes overnight had "achieved their goal". One target was the town of Diabaly, which rebels entered on Monday. |
| 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 to halt the Islamists' advance south. | France began its intervention on Friday to halt the Islamists' advance south. |
| 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." |
| France's wider goal in this campaign is unclear. Is this a mission to push back and contain the Islamist forces? Or is its aim that the government in Bamako expand its control into the vast north of the country? That is a huge task in military terms, leaving aside the very real political problems which in many ways precipitated this crisis in the first place. | France's wider goal in this campaign is unclear. Is this a mission to push back and contain the Islamist forces? Or is its aim that the government in Bamako expand its control into the vast north of the country? That is a huge task in military terms, leaving aside the very real political problems which in many ways precipitated this crisis in the first place. |
| France speaks of handing over the mission to African forces as soon as possible. But how effective will the multi-national West African force be? | France speaks of handing over the mission to African forces as soon as possible. But how effective will the multi-national West African force be? |
| And what about the Malian army itself? It has suffered severe reverses. It has lost quantities of equipment. It needs to be re-formed and re-trained. Key EU countries are willing to undertake this task - but again, it will take time. | And what about the Malian army itself? It has suffered severe reverses. It has lost quantities of equipment. It needs to be re-formed and re-trained. Key EU countries are willing to undertake this task - but again, it will take time. |
| The African troops may well require French air power and logistical support for the foreseeable future. And for the moment, it is largely French forces that must hold the line. | The African troops may well require French air power and logistical support for the foreseeable future. And for the moment, it is largely French forces that must hold the line. |
| 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". |
| Mr Hollande told RFI radio: "We are confident about the speed with which we will be able to stop the aggressors, the enemy, these terrorists." | Mr Hollande told RFI radio: "We are confident about the speed with which we will be able to stop the aggressors, the enemy, these terrorists." |
| The French contingent is expected to rise to 2,500 in the coming weeks. | The French contingent is expected to rise to 2,500 in the coming weeks. |
| Witnesses in Diabaly, 400km (250 miles) north-east of Mali's capital, Bamako, said there had been heavy air strikes overnight to try to dislodge Islamists who had taken the town from Malian forces on Monday. | Witnesses in Diabaly, 400km (250 miles) north-east of Mali's capital, Bamako, said there had been heavy air strikes overnight to try to dislodge Islamists who had taken the town from Malian forces on Monday. |
| However, Mr Hollande said the Islamists had not captured it, but were merely hiding there "to protect themselves", adding: "They will be chased out." | However, Mr Hollande said the Islamists had not captured it, but were merely hiding there "to protect themselves", adding: "They will be chased out." |
| One visitor, Ibrahim Toure, told Associated Press: "They bombed the town all night long. I am hiding inside a house. It only stopped at around 06:00." | One visitor, Ibrahim Toure, told Associated Press: "They bombed the town all night long. I am hiding inside a house. It only stopped at around 06:00." |
| One Malian security source told Agence France-Presse news agency that "at least five Islamists were killed and many injured". | One Malian security source told Agence France-Presse news agency that "at least five Islamists were killed and many injured". |
| Some 30 French tanks and armoured troop transport vehicles also crossed into Mali from Ivory Coast on Monday, with a helicopter escort, witnesses said. | Some 30 French tanks and armoured troop transport vehicles also 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 plane 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 plane 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. |
| UN support | UN support |
| 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 AFP: "The mujahideen have left. They are really scared." | One resident of Timbuktu told AFP: "The mujahideen have left. They are really scared." |
| However, one spokesman for the Islamist group, the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, told AP: "I would advise France not to sing their victory song too quickly. They managed to leave Afghanistan. They will never leave Mali." | However, one spokesman for the Islamist group, the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, told AP: "I would advise France not to sing their victory song too quickly. They managed to leave Afghanistan. They will never leave Mali." |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| A meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday will discuss EU involvement. | A meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday will discuss EU involvement. |
| 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. |
| The UN says some 144,500 Malian refugees have been registered in neighbouring countries since April 2012. | |
| It also says that 30,000 people have been displaced as a direct result of conflict this month. | |
| 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. |