French troops engage al-Qaeda-linked rebels in Mali

A night vision photo provided by the ECPAD/French Army shows French military armored vehicles Tuesday at the airport in Bamako, Mali. Islamists in Mali on Wednesday prevented residents from leaving the towns they are holding, and some fear they will be used as human targets by the extremists as French troops press forward into the country. (Jeremy Lempin, ECPAD EMA)

JOHANNESBURG???French ground forces engaged in face-to-face fighting with al-Qaeda-linked rebels in central Mali on Wednesday, according to French media, as the newly deployed troops launched their first ground operation in a battle to oust the militants.

The reported fighting took place in the town of Diabaly in central Mali, which fell to the Islamists earlier in the week but faced French bombing overnight. Some unconfirmed reports said French forces had taken part in street battles in the town.

France, which once ruled Mali as a colonial power, sees the militants as potentially aiding or joining in terrorist strikes in Europe.

"The (French) special forces are currently in Diabaly, in close-quarter combat with the Islamists. The Malian army is also in place," the news service Agence France-Presse quoted a Malian military official as saying. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.

French military chief Adm. Edouard Giullaud confirmed the ground attack had begun in a radio interview early Wednesday. He said the French were facing guerrilla warfare but added that aerial attacks since Friday had destroyed rebel camps, depots and command centers.

A French convoy departed the Malian capital, Bamako, at dusk Tuesday to cheers from Malian crowds, according to an AFP reporter traveling with the convoy.

"We are going to relieve the special forces, who have reorganized the Malian troops, who were in a bit of disarray, to allow them to push deeper," said the group's commander, identified only by his rank, lieutenant and first name, Marc.

West African forces are expected to join the French-Malian operation in coming days.

The plan, still being finalized, is to deploy about 3,300 West African forces, mainly from Nigeria. The African force is expected to join the battle after about a week, although a contingent of Nigerian soldiers is expected earlier.

France has about 800 soldiers in Mali but will gradually deploy about 2,500. It has announced ambitious plans to crush the rebels, reunify the divided country and restore political stability ? but has also said its forces will leave the country as soon as African forces are ready to take over.

Source: http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_22389289?source=rss

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