Chief of Mali army sets sights on retaking towns of Gao, Timbuktu

Malian forces patrolled Diabaly, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of Bamako, to buttress their presence after rolling into the central town on Monday along with French forces and getting a red carpet welcome by locals.

They also recaptured the strategic crossroads town of Douentza, which was seized by the Islamists in September.

The U.S. military said meanwhile it has started airlifting French troops and equipment from France into Mali to assist their operation.

“We expect the mission to last for the next several days,” an AFRICOM spokesman, Chuck Prichard, told AFP in Germany. “As of yet we've had two flights that have landed and we anticipate more in the coming days.”

Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain and the United Arab Emirates are also providing transport planes or helicopters required to help move the African and French troops around Mali's vast expanses.

SHARE CLOSE
Blogger		Google+
Live Journal		Plurk
Stumble Upon

Tweet

	PREVIOUS ARTICLE
	Black editor who grew up in Nazi Germany dies at 87

NEXT ARTICLE
France and Germany to fete 50 years of landmark, post-war pact

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email

Submit