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| French forces fighting 'hand-to-hand' in Diabaly | French forces fighting 'hand-to-hand' in Diabaly |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| French special forces and Malian government troops launched an offensive against Islamist rebels to retake the town of Diabaly on Wednesday in the first big ground operation in the conflict. | French special forces and Malian government troops launched an offensive against Islamist rebels to retake the town of Diabaly on Wednesday in the first big ground operation in the conflict. |
| French troops were described as fighting "hand-to-hand" with insurgents taking cover in a built-up area. "The jihadists have split up," a witness, Ibrahim Komnotogo, told the Associated Press. "They don't move around in big groups. They are out in the streets, in fours and fives and sixes and they are living inside the most populated neighbourhoods." | French troops were described as fighting "hand-to-hand" with insurgents taking cover in a built-up area. "The jihadists have split up," a witness, Ibrahim Komnotogo, told the Associated Press. "They don't move around in big groups. They are out in the streets, in fours and fives and sixes and they are living inside the most populated neighbourhoods." |
| Diabaly, which is in central Mali, 220 miles north of the capital Bamako, was captured by rebel fighters on Monday, shortly after France intervened militarily to try to halt the Islamists' push towards Bamako. Ansar Dine ("Defenders of the Faith"), one of the main armed rebel groups, said it controlled the town. Communications were cut off early on Wednesday. | Diabaly, which is in central Mali, 220 miles north of the capital Bamako, was captured by rebel fighters on Monday, shortly after France intervened militarily to try to halt the Islamists' push towards Bamako. Ansar Dine ("Defenders of the Faith"), one of the main armed rebel groups, said it controlled the town. Communications were cut off early on Wednesday. |
| The advance on Diabaly began after five days of French air strikes. "Today, the ground forces are being deployed," said France's defence minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian. "Until now, we had made sure there were a few ground forces in Bamako to keep our people safe … Now French ground forces are heading up north." | The advance on Diabaly began after five days of French air strikes. "Today, the ground forces are being deployed," said France's defence minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian. "Until now, we had made sure there were a few ground forces in Bamako to keep our people safe … Now French ground forces are heading up north." |
| Malian civilianLocals gathered to watch as a convoy of about 50 French armoured vehicles left Bamako for the frontline. | Malian civilianLocals gathered to watch as a convoy of about 50 French armoured vehicles left Bamako for the frontline. |
| Further north, residents in the garrison town of Gao and in Konna, the scene of a fierce overnight battle, said phone lines had been cut by rebel fighters or hit during air strikes. French troops or the Malian army need to gain control of both Konna and Diabaly, military experts say. | Further north, residents in the garrison town of Gao and in Konna, the scene of a fierce overnight battle, said phone lines had been cut by rebel fighters or hit during air strikes. French troops or the Malian army need to gain control of both Konna and Diabaly, military experts say. |
| "It is very difficult to make contact with anyone there," said one resident of Konna, Tandina, who had persuaded a local moped driver to drive 25 miles to relative safety in Mopti. "When the bombing began, the Islamists in the town abandoned their 4x4s and stashed their arms in the bush. They hid in ordinary houses. There is no way to know who is an Islamist and who is an ordinary civilian." | "It is very difficult to make contact with anyone there," said one resident of Konna, Tandina, who had persuaded a local moped driver to drive 25 miles to relative safety in Mopti. "When the bombing began, the Islamists in the town abandoned their 4x4s and stashed their arms in the bush. They hid in ordinary houses. There is no way to know who is an Islamist and who is an ordinary civilian." |
| Issa Ballo, who left Konna with his family on Tuesday, said: "Most villagers think they [the rebels] are using Islam as a cover to do harm, but they have supporters, too. They have financed mosques for years, they have marabouts [preachers] who speak in praise of them. In Konna some people agree with what they are doing. They know which houses they can take shelter in." | Issa Ballo, who left Konna with his family on Tuesday, said: "Most villagers think they [the rebels] are using Islam as a cover to do harm, but they have supporters, too. They have financed mosques for years, they have marabouts [preachers] who speak in praise of them. In Konna some people agree with what they are doing. They know which houses they can take shelter in." |
| Residents said Islamists had poured into the town over the past few days by bus and canoe. One man, who refused to give his name out of fear of reprisals, said he had been travelling by bus between Mopti and Konna when heavily armed men stopped them. "They boarded the bus shouting 'Allahu Akbar', and then they hid their weapons and mixed with passengers on the other bus in the convoy. People were crying, but they didn't do anything. All I can say is there was not a single Malian soldier in the town by the time the bus entered Konna. It was very easy for them to enter the town." | Residents said Islamists had poured into the town over the past few days by bus and canoe. One man, who refused to give his name out of fear of reprisals, said he had been travelling by bus between Mopti and Konna when heavily armed men stopped them. "They boarded the bus shouting 'Allahu Akbar', and then they hid their weapons and mixed with passengers on the other bus in the convoy. People were crying, but they didn't do anything. All I can say is there was not a single Malian soldier in the town by the time the bus entered Konna. It was very easy for them to enter the town." |
| In Gao, phone lines appeared to have been disabled. "The town is completely cut off. We have no idea what is happening there," said an official in Timbuktu. | In Gao, phone lines appeared to have been disabled. "The town is completely cut off. We have no idea what is happening there," said an official in Timbuktu. |
| Malian government sources said that commercial pilots have been diverted from Malian airspace where possible amid fears that the Islamists could bring down their planes with anti-aircraft missiles acquired in Libya after the fall of the Gaddafi regime. | Malian government sources said that commercial pilots have been diverted from Malian airspace where possible amid fears that the Islamists could bring down their planes with anti-aircraft missiles acquired in Libya after the fall of the Gaddafi regime. |
| Ansar Dine accused France's president, François Hollande, of lying about the conflict. France has admitted that the 800 troops it has deployed in its former colony – set to triple to 2,500 – face a determined enemy estimated to number up to 1,300. | Ansar Dine accused France's president, François Hollande, of lying about the conflict. France has admitted that the 800 troops it has deployed in its former colony – set to triple to 2,500 – face a determined enemy estimated to number up to 1,300. |
| In Nigeria, 600 troops are preparing to leave the garrison town of Kaduna for deployment as part of a 3,300 strong, UN-mandated West African regional force that it will lead. Benin, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Togo have also pledged to take part. | In Nigeria, 600 troops are preparing to leave the garrison town of Kaduna for deployment as part of a 3,300 strong, UN-mandated West African regional force that it will lead. Benin, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Togo have also pledged to take part. |
| Fatou Bensouda, chief prosecutor of the international criminal court, launched an investigation on Wednesday into war crimes committed in northern Mali since the armed uprising plunged the country into chaos a year ago. Her decision to open a full-scale investigation comes seven months after a preliminary inquiry into allegations of crimes in Mali, following a request by Mali's government. | Fatou Bensouda, chief prosecutor of the international criminal court, launched an investigation on Wednesday into war crimes committed in northern Mali since the armed uprising plunged the country into chaos a year ago. Her decision to open a full-scale investigation comes seven months after a preliminary inquiry into allegations of crimes in Mali, following a request by Mali's government. |