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| Mali Islamist rebels draw closer to capital Bamako | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The battle for control of northern Mali appears to be drawing nearer to the capital, Bamako,, as a growing alliance of international forces continues to attack Islamist strongholds. | |
| Banamba, a town only 90 miles (145km) from Bamako, has been put on alert after jihadists were reportedly seen in the area. A hundred Malian soldiers are reported to have been deployed to the town, with reinforcements on the way. | Banamba, a town only 90 miles (145km) from Bamako, has been put on alert after jihadists were reportedly seen in the area. A hundred Malian soldiers are reported to have been deployed to the town, with reinforcements on the way. |
| There are reports that the threat to the town is connected to the attack on Diabaly, a small garrison town 250 miles north-west of Bamako which was taken by rebels earlier this week. Soldiers and at least one civilian were injured in the attack. Phone lines within the town have now been cut, making communication almost impossible. | There are reports that the threat to the town is connected to the attack on Diabaly, a small garrison town 250 miles north-west of Bamako which was taken by rebels earlier this week. Soldiers and at least one civilian were injured in the attack. Phone lines within the town have now been cut, making communication almost impossible. |
| An official in Banamba told the Associated Press on Thursday that the authorities had received reports of a rebel convoy having left Diabaly on the road connecting it to Banamba. | An official in Banamba told the Associated Press on Thursday that the authorities had received reports of a rebel convoy having left Diabaly on the road connecting it to Banamba. |
| "We don't have a [military] base here, we have no defences. So the military has come to secure the town," he said. "From Monday to today, no jihadists have entered our town. But there are reports that a column [of rebel vehicles] was seen heading toward us from Diabaly." | "We don't have a [military] base here, we have no defences. So the military has come to secure the town," he said. "From Monday to today, no jihadists have entered our town. But there are reports that a column [of rebel vehicles] was seen heading toward us from Diabaly." |
| The threat to Banamba comes amid increasing concern about the capabilities of rebel fighters in government-held southern Mali. The Guardian has learned – in a claim that cannot be verified – that three armed men were arrested in Bamako on Wednesday after being seen by residents travelling in a taxi with guns. | The threat to Banamba comes amid increasing concern about the capabilities of rebel fighters in government-held southern Mali. The Guardian has learned – in a claim that cannot be verified – that three armed men were arrested in Bamako on Wednesday after being seen by residents travelling in a taxi with guns. |
| An official from the Malian National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH) said the men were detained at a market and taken by the securité d'etat, Mali's state security service, to an unknown location. | An official from the Malian National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH) said the men were detained at a market and taken by the securité d'etat, Mali's state security service, to an unknown location. |
| "It is very difficult to know exactly what is going on, because normal measures have been suspended under the current state of emergency," said Amadou Bocar Teguete, vice-president of the CNDH. "But we know that these men were armed and arrested at the Dgikoraone market on suspicion of involvement in terrorism." | "It is very difficult to know exactly what is going on, because normal measures have been suspended under the current state of emergency," said Amadou Bocar Teguete, vice-president of the CNDH. "But we know that these men were armed and arrested at the Dgikoraone market on suspicion of involvement in terrorism." |
| The arrests coincide with claims that Islamist sleeper cells are active in Bamako and could plot attacks in retaliation for the international military intervention. The hostage crisis in Algeria is also being claimed as a revenge attack for efforts to oust Islamists from Mali. | The arrests coincide with claims that Islamist sleeper cells are active in Bamako and could plot attacks in retaliation for the international military intervention. The hostage crisis in Algeria is also being claimed as a revenge attack for efforts to oust Islamists from Mali. |
| France has been progressively increasing its involvement in the fighting, which is expected to ultimately involve 2,500 troops. Air strikes since last Friday have failed to oust rebels from Konna, the town 430 miles from Bamako whose capture initially prompted the French intervention. There have been reports of fresh fighting between Islamists and Malian soldiers there. | France has been progressively increasing its involvement in the fighting, which is expected to ultimately involve 2,500 troops. Air strikes since last Friday have failed to oust rebels from Konna, the town 430 miles from Bamako whose capture initially prompted the French intervention. There have been reports of fresh fighting between Islamists and Malian soldiers there. |
| The French defence minister, Jean-Yves le Drian, said France had increased its number of troops in Mali to 1,400. | The French defence minister, Jean-Yves le Drian, said France had increased its number of troops in Mali to 1,400. |
| "The actions of French forces, be it air forces or ground forces, are ongoing," Le Drian said in Paris. "They took place yesterday, they took place last night, they took place today, they will take place tomorrow." | "The actions of French forces, be it air forces or ground forces, are ongoing," Le Drian said in Paris. "They took place yesterday, they took place last night, they took place today, they will take place tomorrow." |
| After a meeting in Brussels of European Union foreign ministers, their Malian counterpart, Tieman Hubert Coulibaly, said it was necessary to mobilise "the entire international community" to help Mali and the region. | After a meeting in Brussels of European Union foreign ministers, their Malian counterpart, Tieman Hubert Coulibaly, said it was necessary to mobilise "the entire international community" to help Mali and the region. |
| "What is happening in Mali is a global threat," Coulibaly told journalists at a press conference. "Remember what happened on September 11," he said, referring to the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. "It is that terrorism can happen anywhere, at any moment, to anyone." | "What is happening in Mali is a global threat," Coulibaly told journalists at a press conference. "Remember what happened on September 11," he said, referring to the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. "It is that terrorism can happen anywhere, at any moment, to anyone." |
| The military action is being bolstered by a contingent of almost 200 Nigerian soldiers, who flew in on Thursday from Kaduna in northern Nigeria, and 2,000 soldiers from Chad, who would arrive in Mali shortly. | The military action is being bolstered by a contingent of almost 200 Nigerian soldiers, who flew in on Thursday from Kaduna in northern Nigeria, and 2,000 soldiers from Chad, who would arrive in Mali shortly. |
| A source in Mopti, a town on the northern front between Islamist and government-controlled territory which has a neighbouring army base at Severé, said the area was being heavily controlled by French and Malian soldiers. | A source in Mopti, a town on the northern front between Islamist and government-controlled territory which has a neighbouring army base at Severé, said the area was being heavily controlled by French and Malian soldiers. |
| "There are French tanks and many Malian soldiers in Severé," said Issa Ballo. "Earlier, local people saw three French tanks heading in the direction of Konna. | "There are French tanks and many Malian soldiers in Severé," said Issa Ballo. "Earlier, local people saw three French tanks heading in the direction of Konna. |
| "The army is moving around on pickups and motorbikes, they are checking everything in Mopti, and arresting anyone they think is suspicious and putting them inside military vehicles." | "The army is moving around on pickups and motorbikes, they are checking everything in Mopti, and arresting anyone they think is suspicious and putting them inside military vehicles." |