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Mali Islamists seize town amid French intervention Mali Islamists seize town amid French intervention
(about 1 hour later)
Islamist fighters in Mali have seized a town in government-controlled territory amid a military intervention by France.Islamist fighters in Mali have seized a town in government-controlled territory amid a military intervention by France.
French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Diabaly, 400km (250 miles) from the capital, Bamako, was taken in a counter-attack on Monday.French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Diabaly, 400km (250 miles) from the capital, Bamako, was taken in a counter-attack on Monday.
Mr Le Drian insisted France's campaign was "developing favourably".Mr Le Drian insisted France's campaign was "developing favourably".
He said Islamists had retreated in the east but admitted French forces were facing a "difficult" situation against well-armed rebels in western areas.He said Islamists had retreated in the east but admitted French forces were facing a "difficult" situation against well-armed rebels in western areas.
France has called a meeting of the UN Security Council for Monday.France has called a meeting of the UN Security Council for Monday.
For President Francois Hollande - and indeed for the whole of France - it is a different world this week after the decision to go to war in Africa. The rapidity of the move against the jihadists in Mali - and the green light to the failed rescue mission in Somalia - have revealed a man capable of bold and dangerous decisions.
For a time, probably some days or weeks, there will be an automatic tendency to rally behind the flag and praise the president's new-found elan. But it is noticeable that already there are questions being asked about the purposes of Operation Serval.
The clear aim is to weaken the Islamists' infrastructure to the point where they crumble in the face of a new advance from the south.
Its fighters may vanish back into the sands, and leave the towns back in government control. But no-one should be under the illusion that it will necessarily turn out that way.
France began its military intervention last Friday in an attempt to halt the advance of Islamist rebels towards Bamako from bases in the north and east.France began its military intervention last Friday in an attempt to halt the advance of Islamist rebels towards Bamako from bases in the north and east.
Separately, Mr Le Drian said he feared militants in Somalia were planning to stage a "macabre" display of the bodies of two French soldiers killed during a failed attempt to rescue a French hostage. Separately, militants in Somalia have published a purported photograph of one of two French soldiers killed during a failed hostage rescue attempt. Friday's raid on town of Bulo Marer, south of Mogadishu, came hours after the French intervention in Mali.
Friday's raid came hours after the French intervention in Mali.
'Matter of weeks'
French war planes had targeted rebel positions near Diabaly on Sunday.French war planes had targeted rebel positions near Diabaly on Sunday.
The Islamists began their counter-attack on Diabaly, home to a key Mali army base, on Sunday night.The Islamists began their counter-attack on Diabaly, home to a key Mali army base, on Sunday night.
The threat by a Mali-based Islamist leader to "strike at the heart of France" is not exactly an empty boast, but historically al-Qaeda-linked groups in the Sahel region of north-west Africa have found it easier to operate in their immediate area of Mali, Mauritania and neighbouring countries.
"Their aspirations tend to outstrip their capabilities," is how one British government official put it, adding that there was always the risk of "a lone wolf attack" in Europe by a radicalised individual.
The hardcore of the jihadists in Mali comes from the now-defunct Algerian rebel group the GSPC. Having been largely driven out of Algeria by a long and bloody counter-insurgency campaign they have found sanctuary in the un-policed desert wastes of northern Mali.
They have enriched themselves through smuggling and kidnapping for ransom, and still hold eight French hostages. The most likely way for the Islamist militants to retaliate against France would be against French interests in the region.
Mr Le Drian told BFM television: "They took Diabaly after fierce fighting and resistance from the Malian army that was not able to hold them off at that moment."Mr Le Drian told BFM television: "They took Diabaly after fierce fighting and resistance from the Malian army that was not able to hold them off at that moment."
One resident told Reuters news agency: "[The militants] started to infiltrate the town last night by crossing the river in little groups."One resident told Reuters news agency: "[The militants] started to infiltrate the town last night by crossing the river in little groups."
A Malian military source told AFP that rebels had come from the Mauritanian border area after being attacked by French planes.A Malian military source told AFP that rebels had come from the Mauritanian border area after being attacked by French planes.
'Matter of weeks'
France intensified its air strikes on rebel targets over the weekend, with its aircraft also bombing the town of Gao in eastern Mali.France intensified its air strikes on rebel targets over the weekend, with its aircraft also bombing the town of Gao in eastern Mali.
Mr Le Drian said: "The developments are in line with our expectations. In the east of Mali the advance of the rebels has been blocked. The town of Konna has been abandoned. The terrorist groups are in effect in retreat."Mr Le Drian said: "The developments are in line with our expectations. In the east of Mali the advance of the rebels has been blocked. The town of Konna has been abandoned. The terrorist groups are in effect in retreat."
The threat by a Mali-based Islamist leader to "strike at the heart of France" is not exactly an empty boast, but historically al-Qaeda-linked groups in the Sahel region of north-west Africa have found it easier to operate in their immediate area of Mali, Mauritania and neighbouring countries.
"Their aspirations tend to outstrip their capabilities," is how one British government official put it, adding that there was always the risk of "a lone wolf attack" in Europe by a radicalised individual.
The hardcore of the jihadists in Mali comes from the now-defunct Algerian rebel group the GSPC. Having been largely driven out of Algeria by a long and bloody counter-insurgency campaign they have found sanctuary in the un-policed desert wastes of northern Mali.
They have enriched themselves through smuggling and kidnapping for ransom, and still hold eight French hostages. The most likely way for the Islamist militants to retaliate against France would be against French interests in the region.
He said the strikes on Gao had caused rebels to flee east.He said the strikes on Gao had caused rebels to flee east.
But Mr Le Drian added: "There is a difficult situation in the west, where we have encountered heavily armed militants. Operations against them are going on as we speak, alongside the Malian army.But Mr Le Drian added: "There is a difficult situation in the west, where we have encountered heavily armed militants. Operations against them are going on as we speak, alongside the Malian army.
"It's in the west today where the most important fighting is going on.""It's in the west today where the most important fighting is going on."
Rebels of the al-Qaeda-linked Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao), said that France would pay for its intervention.Rebels of the al-Qaeda-linked Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao), said that France would pay for its intervention.
Spokesman Abou Dardar told AFP: "France has attacked Islam. We will strike at the heart of France."Spokesman Abou Dardar told AFP: "France has attacked Islam. We will strike at the heart of France."
Another spokesman, Oumar Ould Hamaha, told Europe 1 radio: "France has opened the gates of hell for all the French. She has fallen into a trap which is much more dangerous than Iraq, Afghanistan or Somalia."Another spokesman, Oumar Ould Hamaha, told Europe 1 radio: "France has opened the gates of hell for all the French. She has fallen into a trap which is much more dangerous than Iraq, Afghanistan or Somalia."
At least 11 Malian soldiers and a French helicopter pilot have died since Friday. More than 100 militants are reported to have been killed.At least 11 Malian soldiers and a French helicopter pilot have died since Friday. More than 100 militants are reported to have been killed.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France's involvement would last "a matter of weeks" and rejected any parallel with the protracted Western mission in Afghanistan.French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France's involvement would last "a matter of weeks" and rejected any parallel with the protracted Western mission in Afghanistan.
"Later on, we can come as back-up, but we have no intention of staying forever," he said."Later on, we can come as back-up, but we have no intention of staying forever," he said.
France has sent about 550 troops to the central town of Mopti and to Bamako.France has sent about 550 troops to the central town of Mopti and to Bamako.
They are set to be joined by troops from the neighbouring African states of Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Togo, some of which are now expected to arrive in Mali within days.They are set to be joined by troops from the neighbouring African states of Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Togo, some of which are now expected to arrive in Mali within days.
Islamist groups and secular Tuareg rebels took advantage of chaos following a military coup to seize northern Mali in April 2012.Islamist groups and secular Tuareg rebels took advantage of chaos following a military coup to seize northern Mali in April 2012.
But the Islamists soon took control of the region's major towns, sidelining the Tuaregs.But the Islamists soon took control of the region's major towns, sidelining the Tuaregs.
One Islamist group, Ansar Dine, began pushing further south last week, seizing Konna.One Islamist group, Ansar Dine, began pushing further south last week, seizing Konna.
The town has since been recaptured by Malian troops with French aerial support.The town has since been recaptured by Malian troops with French aerial support.
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Are you in Mali or France? What are your thoughts on these latest developments? Send your comments and details of your experiences using the form below.Are you in Mali or France? What are your thoughts on these latest developments? Send your comments and details of your experiences using the form below.