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| Hollande steps up France security over Mali and Somalia | Hollande steps up France security over Mali and Somalia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| French President Francois Hollande has ordered security stepped up around public buildings and transport because of military operations in Africa. | |
| He was responding to the risk of Islamist attack after French forces attacked militants in Mali and Somalia. | |
| A pilot was killed as air strikes were launched on a column of Malian rebels. | |
| In Somalia, two French soldiers were "sacrificed" in a raid to free a French hostage, Mr Hollande said. The hostage was believed to have died. | |
| 'Vigipirate' | 'Vigipirate' |
| France's anti-terrorism alert system known as "Vigipirate" is being raised to boost security at public buildings and transport networks. | France's anti-terrorism alert system known as "Vigipirate" is being raised to boost security at public buildings and transport networks. |
| The "struggle against terrorism" required all necessary precautions to be taken in France itself, the president said. | The "struggle against terrorism" required all necessary precautions to be taken in France itself, the president said. |
| Earlier, one of the Islamist groups targeted by French military action in the west African state of Mali threatened reprisals against France. | Earlier, one of the Islamist groups targeted by French military action in the west African state of Mali threatened reprisals against France. |
| An Ansar Dine spokesman told Reuters news agency there would be consequences for French citizens throughout the Muslim world. | An Ansar Dine spokesman told Reuters news agency there would be consequences for French citizens throughout the Muslim world. |
| The operations in Mali and Somalia were launched within hours of each other but were "totally unconnected", according to government officials. | The operations in Mali and Somalia were launched within hours of each other but were "totally unconnected", according to government officials. |
| French troops were deployed in Mali on Friday after the army lost control of a strategically important town to Islamists who were advancing south. The rebels took control of a huge swathe of northern Mali last April. | French troops were deployed in Mali on Friday after the army lost control of a strategically important town to Islamists who were advancing south. The rebels took control of a huge swathe of northern Mali last April. |
| The central town of Konna has since been recaptured, the Malian government says. | The central town of Konna has since been recaptured, the Malian government says. |
| Then, French commandos went into action in Somalia, swooping on the town of Bulo Marer in an attempt to free Denis Allex, who was kidnapped in July 2009. | Then, French commandos went into action in Somalia, swooping on the town of Bulo Marer in an attempt to free Denis Allex, who was kidnapped in July 2009. |
| A battle erupted with al-Shabab militants and, according to President Hollande, the operation failed "despite the sacrifice of two of our soldiers and without doubt the assassination of our hostage". | A battle erupted with al-Shabab militants and, according to President Hollande, the operation failed "despite the sacrifice of two of our soldiers and without doubt the assassination of our hostage". |
| Earlier, French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said one of the soldiers had been killed, another was missing, and "all the indications" were that Mr Allex had been killed by his captors. | |
| But al-Shabab later said the hostage was not in the area at the time of the raid and was alive. | |
| The president said he had taken the decision to launch the mission several days ago. "This operation confirms France's determination not to give in to the blackmail of terrorists," he said. | |
| 'Heavy losses' | |
| Hundreds of French troops have been deployed in Mali, both in the conflict zone near Konna and in the capital, Bamako. | |
| An estimated 6,000 French expatriates are said to live in Bamako and one of the tasks of the French mission is to guarantee their security. | |
| President Hollande said "heavy losses" had been inflicted on France's adversaries "but our mission is not over yet". | |
| The defence minister said earlier that Paris had decided to act urgently to stop the Islamist offensive, which threatened to create "a terrorist state at the doorstep of France and Europe". | |
| He also revealed that a French helicopter pilot, Lieutenant Damien Boiteux, was killed in Friday's fighting - during an air raid to support Mali's ground troops in the battle for Konna. | |
| Hit by small arms fire, he had been taken to hospital in Mopti where he died of his wounds. | |
| On Saturday, Malian interim President Dioncounda Traore called Mr Hollande to thank him for the military intervention, the AFP news agency reports. | |
| Mr Traore declared a state of emergency on Friday across Mali, which he said would remain in place for an initial period of 10 days. | |
| West African bloc Ecowas has also authorised the immediate deployment of troops to Mali, although details of the numbers are still unclear. | |
| A government official in Niger told Reuters news agency around 500 troops would be sent while AFP reported that Burkina Faso was sending a similar force. | |
| In a statement, Ecowas Commission President Kadre Desire Ouedraogo said the decision was made "in light of the urgency of the situation". |