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| France military says Mali town Konna 'not recaptured' | France military says Mali town Konna 'not recaptured' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| French military officials say the Malian army has not recaptured the central town of Konna, contradicting reports from Mali at the weekend. | French military officials say the Malian army has not recaptured the central town of Konna, contradicting reports from Mali at the weekend. |
| France launched its military intervention last Friday after Islamists seized Konna and began advancing further south. | France launched its military intervention last Friday after Islamists seized Konna and began advancing further south. |
| After French air strikes began, a Malian military official said the army had brought Konna back under control. | After French air strikes began, a Malian military official said the army had brought Konna back under control. |
| But the defence minister in Paris said it was not in Malian hands. | But the defence minister in Paris said it was not in Malian hands. |
| Jean-Yves Le Drian said the French aerial campaign had managed to block the rebels who had moved back to an area between Douentza and Gao. | Jean-Yves Le Drian said the French aerial campaign had managed to block the rebels who had moved back to an area between Douentza and Gao. |
| But, he said, "at this time, the town of Konna has still not been recaptured by the Malian armed forces". | But, he said, "at this time, the town of Konna has still not been recaptured by the Malian armed forces". |
| BBC Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield says the significance is unclear, but it suggests that the Malian army on the ground does not have the capacity to take advantage of the air support offered by the French. | BBC Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield says the significance is unclear, but it suggests that the Malian army on the ground does not have the capacity to take advantage of the air support offered by the French. |
| Heritage site | Heritage site |
| In March and April last year, Islamist and secular Tuareg rebels overran the main population centres in northern Mali. Soon the Islamists, some with links to al-Qaeda, took control and imposed a hardline form of Sharia. | In March and April last year, Islamist and secular Tuareg rebels overran the main population centres in northern Mali. Soon the Islamists, some with links to al-Qaeda, took control and imposed a hardline form of Sharia. |
| While a West African force was being planned with the aim of bringing the north back under the control of the Malian government, the rebels began moving further south. | While a West African force was being planned with the aim of bringing the north back under the control of the Malian government, the rebels began moving further south. |
| A series of air attacks by French helicopters and fighter planes reportedly sent the rebels fleeing from two of the main northern towns, Gao and Timbuktu. But gunfire was heard outside Timbuktu, a Unesco world heritage site, on Tuesday. | A series of air attacks by French helicopters and fighter planes reportedly sent the rebels fleeing from two of the main northern towns, Gao and Timbuktu. But gunfire was heard outside Timbuktu, a Unesco world heritage site, on Tuesday. |
| And the Islamists have hit back, seizing the central town of Diabaly on Monday, 350km (220 miles) north-east of the capital, Bamako. | And the Islamists have hit back, seizing the central town of Diabaly on Monday, 350km (220 miles) north-east of the capital, Bamako. |
| Almost 800 French troops have been sent to help the Malian military fight back against the Islamists and their numbers are expected to increase to 2,500. | |
| Air strikes were launched on targets in Diabaly on Monday night and AFP news agency quoted a local government official in the area as saying that hundreds of Malian and French soldiers were heading for the town in armoured vehicles. | Air strikes were launched on targets in Diabaly on Monday night and AFP news agency quoted a local government official in the area as saying that hundreds of Malian and French soldiers were heading for the town in armoured vehicles. |
| A West African force of about 3,300 is due to start arriving in Mali in the next few days, under href="http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/2085(2012)" >a UN Security Council resolution. | |
| The force will be made up of 900 Nigerian soldiers, the first of whom will leave for Bamako on Wednesday, as well as troops from Benin, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Togo. | |
| French President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday that France had three aims in Mali: "To stop the terrorist aggression... make Bamako safe... and enable Mali to recover its territorial integrity. | |
| The battle for Mali previous slide next slide | The battle for Mali previous slide next slide |
| 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. |