Submit your comments on this article |
Africa Subsaharan |
France steps up Mali operation, Africans try to catch up |
2013-01-15 |
* French armoured vehicles arrive in Bamako to back troops * Some West African soldiers seen arriving next week * Some questions over combat readiness of ECOWAS troops * Western powers fear region could become jihadist launchpad |
Posted by:tipper |
#1 update French triple troops in Mali, prepare for massive land assault as al-Qaida rebels gain ground After a punishing bombing campaign failed to halt the advance of al-Qaida-linked fighters, France pledged Tuesday to send hundreds more troops into Mali as it prepared for a land assault to dislodge the militants occupying the northern half of the country. The move reversed FranceÂ’s earlier insistence on providing only aerial and logistical support for a military intervention led by African ground troops. |
Posted by: tipper 2013-01-15 18:07 |