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Mali conflict: French troops 'seize' Diabaly, Douentza Mali conflict: French troops 'seize' Diabaly, Douentza
(about 2 hours later)
French and Malian troops have seized the key Malian towns of Diabaly and Douentza from militant Islamists, the French defence minister has said.French and Malian troops have seized the key Malian towns of Diabaly and Douentza from militant Islamists, the French defence minister has said.
A BBC reporter in Diabaly says the town bears the scars of conflict, with burnt-out vehicles and chunks of shrapnel strewn on the ground.A BBC reporter in Diabaly says the town bears the scars of conflict, with burnt-out vehicles and chunks of shrapnel strewn on the ground.
Islamist fighters fled Diabaly and Douentza last week after a French bombing campaign started on 11 January.Islamist fighters fled Diabaly and Douentza last week after a French bombing campaign started on 11 January.
Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi has condemned France's actions.Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi has condemned France's actions.
"We never accept military intervention in Mali, because this will exacerbate conflict in the region," he said at an Arab economic summit in Saudi Arabia."We never accept military intervention in Mali, because this will exacerbate conflict in the region," he said at an Arab economic summit in Saudi Arabia.
France has sent some 2,000 troops to help Malian forces fight the militants, saying it entered the conflict because the insurgents, in control of the north, were advancing south, threatening to turn Mali into a "terrorist state".France has sent some 2,000 troops to help Malian forces fight the militants, saying it entered the conflict because the insurgents, in control of the north, were advancing south, threatening to turn Mali into a "terrorist state".
At the main military base in Diabaly, a 2m (6.5ft) deep crater marks the spot where a French jet aimed a bomb. The shrapnel from it destroyed several buildings.
Nearby, a pickup truck appears to have been struck by rockets. Its cargo of AK-47 rifles in the back is burnt to a crisp. But the most frightening thing I saw in the base was a boy of about 10 wandering about looking at the fascinating objects.
"What's that?", he said asked me, making to pick up the tailfin of a grenade. I shouted at him to stop.
Meanwhile, French troops walked about the place making notes and Malian government soldiers picked through the debris.
Diabaly was the first town to be retaken by the French. It was hard work for them - despite their great experience of fighting in Africa. Much larger cities like Timbuktu and Gao remain to be dealt with. This will be a long war.
It has called on the West African regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), to speed up the planned deployment of a force of more than 3,000.It has called on the West African regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), to speed up the planned deployment of a force of more than 3,000.
Burnt-out vehicles destroyed by helicopter fire, chunks of shrapnel littering the ground and Malian soldiers picking through the debris - the scars of conflict in the small town of Diabaly.
It is the first town to have been recaptured by French forces on behalf of the Malian government.
A resident said hundreds of Islamists had occupied the town earlier this month, and the Malian army was forced to withdraw when the insurgents used the population as human shields.
It may also be that the Malian army was overwhelmed and needed French help to retake the town.
Amongst all the destruction, there was a bizarre sight - the mayor of Diabaly walking through the sandy streets in a smart suit with his ceremonial sash of office across his chest.
He thanked the Malian army and the French in every conversation he had.
But during a visit to Berlin, Ecowas chairman and Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara urged German Chancellor Angela Merkel to send troops.But during a visit to Berlin, Ecowas chairman and Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara urged German Chancellor Angela Merkel to send troops.
"Germany has soldiers in Afghanistan and it has the capacity to send them also to Mali," he said."Germany has soldiers in Afghanistan and it has the capacity to send them also to Mali," he said.
An Islamist group in Nigeria has said it carried out an attack last week which killed two Nigerian troops as they prepared to deploy to Mali.An Islamist group in Nigeria has said it carried out an attack last week which killed two Nigerian troops as they prepared to deploy to Mali.
Ansaru said it targeted the troops because the Nigerian military was joining efforts to "demolish the Islamic empire of Mali".Ansaru said it targeted the troops because the Nigerian military was joining efforts to "demolish the Islamic empire of Mali".
'Total reconquest'
Nigeria has pledged to send 1,200 troops to Mali, with the first 50 deployed last week.Nigeria has pledged to send 1,200 troops to Mali, with the first 50 deployed last week.
Togolese and Senegalese solders make up the remaining 100 troops already in Bamako, AFP news agency reports.Togolese and Senegalese solders make up the remaining 100 troops already in Bamako, AFP news agency reports.
'PR exercise'
The BBC's Marks Doyle reports from Diabaly that French troops spearheaded the operation to retake the town, which is about 400km (250 miles) from the capital, Bamako.The BBC's Marks Doyle reports from Diabaly that French troops spearheaded the operation to retake the town, which is about 400km (250 miles) from the capital, Bamako.
They brought Malian forces along with them, partly as a public relations exercise, he says.They brought Malian forces along with them, partly as a public relations exercise, he says.
In a bizarre sight, Diabaly Mayor Oumar Diakite has been walking through the town's sandy streets in a smart suit with his ceremonial sash of office across his chest, thanking Malian and French forces in every conversation, our correspondent says.In a bizarre sight, Diabaly Mayor Oumar Diakite has been walking through the town's sandy streets in a smart suit with his ceremonial sash of office across his chest, thanking Malian and French forces in every conversation, our correspondent says.
Mali's Islamist fighters fled Diabaly on Friday.Mali's Islamist fighters fled Diabaly on Friday.
They held the town for only about a week, seizing it after France's intervention in Mali.They held the town for only about a week, seizing it after France's intervention in Mali.
French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that Diabaly was now under the control of French and Malian troops, AFP news agency reports.French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that Diabaly was now under the control of French and Malian troops, AFP news agency reports.
The central town of Douentza, about 800km (500 miles) from Bamako, had also been recaptured, he was quoted as saying.The central town of Douentza, about 800km (500 miles) from Bamako, had also been recaptured, he was quoted as saying.
Army commanders had earlier expressed fears that Islamists fleeing Diabaly had planted landmines.Army commanders had earlier expressed fears that Islamists fleeing Diabaly had planted landmines.
On Sunday, Mr Le Drian said France was seeking "total reconquest" of northern Mali.On Sunday, Mr Le Drian said France was seeking "total reconquest" of northern Mali.
"We will not leave any pockets" of resistance, he told French television."We will not leave any pockets" of resistance, he told French television.
The Islamist groups currently control an of the Sahara Desert larger than France.The Islamist groups currently control an of the Sahara Desert larger than France.