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| Mali: RAF C-17 cargo plane set to help French operation | Mali: RAF C-17 cargo plane set to help French operation |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An RAF C-17 cargo plane is set to leave the UK on Sunday to help French efforts to contain rebels in Mali, Ministry of Defence sources say. | |
| The first of two planes will leave RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire later and load up with equipment in Paris before flying to Mali on Monday. | |
| France has attacked militants in Mali to support the Malian government in recent days. | France has attacked militants in Mali to support the Malian government in recent days. |
| Downing Street said no UK troops would be deployed in a combat role. | |
| The Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, indicated British personnel could play a role in training the Malian army through the European Union. | |
| He said the UK was providing "only very limited strategic tactical support" in the form of the two C-17 transport planes, in response to a French request. | |
| "There are no plans to extend the UK's military at the moment," Mr Simmonds told the BBC News Channel. | "There are no plans to extend the UK's military at the moment," Mr Simmonds told the BBC News Channel. |
| Justifying the government's decision to help, he told Sky News there was a "thoroughly unpleasant regime" in the north of the country with "raping and sexual violence taking place" and children being forced into the military. | |
| 'International security' | 'International security' |
| The move to transport foreign troops and equipment was agreed in a phone call between Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande on Saturday night, Downing Street said. | |
| "The prime minister spoke to President Hollande... to discuss the deteriorating situation... and how the UK can support French military assistance provided to the Malian government to contain rebel and extremist groups in the north of the country," a spokeswoman said. | |
| "The prime minister has agreed that the UK will provide logistical military assistance to help transport foreign troops and equipment quickly. | |
| "We will not be deploying any British personnel in a combat role. They also agreed that the peacekeeping mission from West African countries needs to be strongly supported by countries in the region and deployed as quickly as possible. | "We will not be deploying any British personnel in a combat role. They also agreed that the peacekeeping mission from West African countries needs to be strongly supported by countries in the region and deployed as quickly as possible. |
| "Both leaders agreed that the situation in Mali poses a real threat to international security given terrorist activity there." | "Both leaders agreed that the situation in Mali poses a real threat to international security given terrorist activity there." |
| The government's National Security Council (NSC) will discuss the situation when it meets on Tuesday. | The government's National Security Council (NSC) will discuss the situation when it meets on Tuesday. |
| Hostage attempt | Hostage attempt |
| Meanwhile, President Hollande has ordered security to be stepped up around French public buildings and transport following the operations in Mali and Somalia. | Meanwhile, President Hollande has ordered security to be stepped up around French public buildings and transport following the operations in Mali and Somalia. |
| French troops were deployed in Mali on Friday after its 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 its 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 probably 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 probably the assassination of our hostage". |