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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Mali: 'No UK army boots' on the ground - Cameron | Mali: 'No UK army boots' on the ground - Cameron |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The prime minister has restated that British troops will not go onto the ground in Mali, despite the UK offering logistical support to France. | The prime minister has restated that British troops will not go onto the ground in Mali, despite the UK offering logistical support to France. |
| The first of two RAF C17 cargo planes sent to help French military efforts against Islamist rebels is delayed in Paris due to technical issues. | The first of two RAF C17 cargo planes sent to help French military efforts against Islamist rebels is delayed in Paris due to technical issues. |
| David Cameron said: "What is being done in Mali is in our interests and should support France's actions." | David Cameron said: "What is being done in Mali is in our interests and should support France's actions." |
| France has attacked the militants since Friday, to support Mali's government. | France has attacked the militants since Friday, to support Mali's government. |
| Its armed forces have been helping government forces in the West African country recapture the central town of Konna. | Its armed forces have been helping government forces in the West African country recapture the central town of Konna. |
| France has called a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation in Mali on Monday. | France has called a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation in Mali on Monday. |
| Commons statement | Commons statement |
| The first of the two C17s left RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Sunday and was loaded with French armoured vehicles and other equipment at the Evreux airbase in Normandy overnight. | The first of the two C17s left RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Sunday and was loaded with French armoured vehicles and other equipment at the Evreux airbase in Normandy overnight. |
| It was due to fly to Mali's capital, Bamako, on Monday morning, but has been delayed due to a "minor technical fault", a Ministry of Defence spokesman said. | It was due to fly to Mali's capital, Bamako, on Monday morning, but has been delayed due to a "minor technical fault", a Ministry of Defence spokesman said. |
| The problem is thought to be a short-term one and the plane is expected to be ready to depart later. | The problem is thought to be a short-term one and the plane is expected to be ready to depart later. |
| A second C17 is due to leave the UK on Monday morning. | A second C17 is due to leave the UK on Monday morning. |
| The UK prime minister and French President Francois Hollande spoke on Saturday and agreed that the situation in Mali posed a real threat to international security due to terrorist activity there. | The UK prime minister and French President Francois Hollande spoke on Saturday and agreed that the situation in Mali posed a real threat to international security due to terrorist activity there. |
| Mr Cameron told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Britain would also share intelligence with France as part of its campaign. | Mr Cameron told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Britain would also share intelligence with France as part of its campaign. |
| "There is a very dangerous Islamist regime allied to al-Qaeda in control of the north of that country. It was threatening the south of that country and we should support the action that the French have taken," he said. | "There is a very dangerous Islamist regime allied to al-Qaeda in control of the north of that country. It was threatening the south of that country and we should support the action that the French have taken," he said. |
| "So we were first out of the blocks, as it were, to say to the French 'we'll help you, we'll work with you and we'll share what intelligence we have with you and try to help you with what you are doing'." | "So we were first out of the blocks, as it were, to say to the French 'we'll help you, we'll work with you and we'll share what intelligence we have with you and try to help you with what you are doing'." |
| The Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, has indicated British personnel could play a role in training the Malian army through a European Union initiative. | The Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, has indicated British personnel could play a role in training the Malian army through a European Union initiative. |
| He is expected to update MPs on the UK's role in the operation in an oral Commons statement on Monday afternoon. | |
| The government's National Security Council (NSC) is set to discuss the situation in Mali when it meets on Tuesday. | The government's National Security Council (NSC) is set to discuss the situation in Mali when it meets on Tuesday. |
| 'Appalling consequences' | 'Appalling consequences' |
| The French are trying to halt an advance by rebels affiliated with al-Qaeda, who have been pushing south from their northern base against the Mali government. | |
| They deployed 550 troops last week after Mali forces lost control of the strategically important town of Konna to the rebels. | |
| The town has since been recaptured by Malian troops with French aerial support. | |
| Islamist groups and secular Tuareg rebels seized a swathe of northern Mali in April 2012 after taking advantage of chaos following a military coup. | |
| But the Islamists soon took control of the region's major towns, sidelining the Tuaregs. | |
| France's decision to intervene in its former colony took many by surprise. | |
| A UN-backed international force from countries in Ecowas, the West African regional bloc, had not been expected until the autumn. | |
| Meanwhile, the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has said that France's involvement in the campaign in Mali will last "a matter of weeks". | Meanwhile, the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has said that France's involvement in the campaign in Mali will last "a matter of weeks". |
| He said if France had not intervened, there was a risk that Islamists could have advanced as far as the capital, Bamako, with "appalling consequences". | He said if France had not intervened, there was a risk that Islamists could have advanced as far as the capital, Bamako, with "appalling consequences". |
| On Sunday, French warplanes bombed the town of Gao in eastern Mali, extending their raids deep into rebel territory. | On Sunday, French warplanes bombed the town of Gao in eastern Mali, extending their raids deep into rebel territory. |
| The French intervention had succeeded in stopping their advance towards the south, he added. | The French intervention had succeeded in stopping their advance towards the south, he added. |
| Mr Fabius said practical support was also coming from the US, Denmark and other European countries. | |