[size=16pt]Air strikes keep pressure on Mali rebels[/size]

By Xan Rice in Lagos




French aircraft carried out more air strikes against Islamist rebels in Mali on Saturday, as Britain agreed to help transport foreign troops and equipment in an effort to contain the militants.

Mirage jets and attack helicopters struck near the town of Konna, which was seized by al-Qaeda-linked rebels advancing from their northern stronghold on Thursday. Mali’s government appealed to France for military assistance, which was approved by President François Hollande the next day.

Britain said on Saturday evening it would send two C-17 transport aircraft to assist with the deployment of a west African force to Mali, though no British troops will be involved in combat operations.

Mali’s army is reported to be in control of Konna, in the central region, close to the frontline separating government forces and the rebels, who hold sway in the vast desert north. There were dozens of casualties in the battle for the town, including several civilians and 11 Malian soldiers, according to the presidency. A resident of Gao, a rebel stronghold in the north, told the Financial Times by telephone that “many injured and dead people [Islamist fighters]” were brought to the town on Saturday.

A French pilot was killed after his helicopter was shot down near the town of Mopti.

France, which has numerous military bases in west Africa, has sent special forces to central Mali, as well as hundreds of troops to protect the capital Bamako as part of a mission called Operation Serval. Mr Hollande has stressed that France’s aim is to assist west African forces, whose deployment was authorised by the UN Security Council in December, rather than take on the Islamists using French troops.

France and other western countries fear that northern Mali is becoming a haven for terrorists, threatening regional stability and raising the risk of attacks in the West.

“We’ve already held back the progress of our adversaries and inflicted heavy losses on them,” Mr Hollande said. “Our mission is not over yet.”

Britain’s offer of logistical assistance followed a phone call between Prime Minister David Cameron and Mr Hollande on Saturday. The transport planes are expected to be deployed on Sunday or Monday. “The Prime Minister has agreed that the UK will provide logistical military assistance to help transport foreign troops and equipment quickly to Mali,” Downing Street said.

“We will not be deploying any British personnel in a combat role. They also agreed that the peacekeeping mission from west African countries needs to be strongly supported by countries in the region and deployed as quickly as possible.

“Both leaders agreed that the situation in Mali poses a real threat to international security given terrorist activity there.”

Intervention by France, the former colonial ruler of Mali, has been broadly welcomed there. Seydou Traore, a Bamako resident who lived in the northern city of Timbuktu until early last year, when the rebellion began, said: “The situation is calm but people here are very happy. Everyone was worried when the Islamists advanced last week.”

Deployment of a 3,300-strong west African force was scheduled for September, to allow time for proper planning, training and co-ordination with Mali’s weak army. But the rebel advance has changed that.

Ivory Coast, whose president is the current chair of the regional bloc Ecowas, said the first contingents of troops from Nigeria, Togo and Niger were expected in Mali by Monday at the latest.

US officials have previously questioned whether the west African troops are equipped for desert warfare of the sort expected in northern Mali. There are also concerns over the strength and motivation of Malian forces, who suffered several losses at the start of the rebellion. Despite the French air support, it is considered unlikely that a full ground operation to retake the north will begin swiftly.

France has advised its 6,000 citizens in Mali to leave the country, and increased its security alert in neighbouring countries.

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