France bombs Mali rebels as more troops arrive in Bamako

[Reece]

(Reuters) - French fighter jets bombed Islamist rebels in Mali for a third day on Sunday as Paris poured more troops into the capital Bamako, awaiting the arrival of a West African force to dislodge al Qaeda-linked insurgents from the country's north.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said France's dramatic intervention on Friday to bomb a convoy of heavily armed Islamist fighters sweeping southwards had stopped them from seizing Mali's capital Bamako within days.

Western countries fear Islamists could use Mali as a base for attacks on the West, forming a link with al Qaeda militants in Yemen, Somalia and North Africa.

Le Drian said former colonial power France was carrying out continuous bombing raids against the alliance of rebel groups, which seized the country's vast desert north in April.

"There are raids going on now: there were some last night, and there will be more tomorrow," Le Drian told French television. "The president is totally determined that we must eradicate these terrorists who threaten the security of Mali, our own country and Europe."

Residents said French aircraft bombed the northern town of Gao, and a Malian rebel spokesman said they bombed targets in the towns of Lere and Douentza.

Le Drian said France was deploying a further contingent of 80 soldiers to Mali on Sunday, bring the total to 550 soldiers , split between Bamako and the town of Mopti, some 500 km (300 miles) north. State-of-the-art Rafale fighter jets would be dispatched to reinforce the operation on Sunday, he said.

A Reuters cameraman reported seeing on Sunday more than 100 French troops disembarking from a military cargo plane at Bamako airport, just on the outskirts of the capital.

Bamako itself was calm on Sunday, with the sun streaking through the dust enveloping the city as the seasonal Harmattan wind blew from the Sahara. Some cars drove around with French flags draped from the windows to celebrate Paris's intervention.

Hours after opening one front against al Qaeda-linked Islamists, France mounted a commando raid to free a French hostage in Somalia held by al Shabaab militants allied to al Qaeda, but failed to stop him being killed along with a French commando.

A French pilot was killed on Friday when rebels in Mali shot down his helicopter.

President Francois Hollande has made it clear that France's aim in Mali is to support the deployment of a West African mission to retake the north, endorsed by the United Nations, the European Union and the United States.

The 15-nation West African bloc ECOWAS convened a summit for Saturday in Ivory Coast to discuss the military campaign.

With Paris pressing West African nations to deploy troops quickly, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, who holds the rotating ECOWAS chairmanship, has kick-started the operation to deploy some 3,300 African soldiers.

Ouattara was himself installed in power with French military backing in 2011 after a brief civil war triggered by former president Laurent Gbagbo's refusal to step aside after losing a late 2010 election.

"The troops will start arriving in Bamako today and tomorrow," Ali Coulibaly, Ivory Coast's African Integration Minister, said. "They will be convoyed to the front at Sevare."

HOUSE-TO-HOUSE SEARCHES

Under cover from French fighter planes and attack helicopters on Friday, Malian troops drove the Islamists out of the strategic central town of Konna, which they had seized a day earlier. A senior Malian army official said more than 100 rebel fighters had been killed.

Military analysts expressed doubt, however, that this was the start of a swift operation to retake the whole of northern Mali - a harsh, sparsely populated terrain the size of France - as neither equipment nor ground troops were ready.

In Nigeria, which will lead the ECOWAS force, a military official who asked not to be identified said it would take time to train and equip the troops.

In Konna, calm returned after three nights of combat.

"Soldiers are patrolling the streets and have encircled the town," one resident, Madame Coulibaly, told Reuters by phone. "They are searching houses for arms or hidden Islamists."

Another inhabitant said the army set up roadblocks along the route north from Sevare to Konna and was checking for rebels. President Diouncounda Traore declared a state of emergency on Friday giving the military sweeping powers to carry out searches and shut down parts of the country.

"The army is in Konna ... securing the town and to make sure it is safe," army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Diarran Kone said.

A resident in the northern city of Gao, one of the Islamists' strongholds, had reported scores of rebel fighters were retreating northward in pickup trucks on Saturday. In Bamako, some civilians tried to contribute to the war effort.

"We are very proud and relieved that the army was able to drive the jihadists out of Konna. We hope it will not end there that is why I'm helping in my own way," said civil servant Ibrahima Kalossi, 32, one of over 40 people who queued to donate blood for wounded soldiers.

Concerned about reprisals on French soil, Hollande instructed Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to tighten security in France at public buildings and on public transport.

France advised its 6,000 citizens in Mali to leave. Thousands more French live across West Africa, particularly in Senegal and Ivory Coast.

Hollande's intervention in Mali could endanger eight French nationals being held by Islamists in the Sahara. A spokesman for one of Mali's rebel groups, Ansar Dine, said on Saturday there would be repercussions.

"There are consequences, not only for French hostages, but also for all French citizens, wherever they find themselves in the Muslim world," Sanda Ould Boumama told Reuters. "The hostages are facing death."

[Jellyfish]

Guess they won't be partaking in the FIFA qualifying rounds. Heck, whole North Africa won't once the 'campaign' starts because the West is scared an half of a continents militants are rising against them.

[Boby64]

(...)

[Dolfagr]

French trying to be Americans? lolwat..


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9797377/French-hostage-believed-killed-in-Somalia-raid-as-military-operation-continues-in-Mali.html

 :poke:

[Mikal]

French trying to be Americans? lolwat..

How..?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21004040

That is one hell of a nice plane.

[Dolfagr]

How..?

By doing US's job and bombing countries. Soon they might lose just like Vietnam, leave and call for US to invade Mali.

[Mikal]

By doing US's job and bombing countries. Soon they might lose just like Vietnam, leave and call for US to invade Mali.

How is it the USA's job? :poke:

[ElMartu]

How is it the USA's job? :poke:

For once I have to agree with you.

[ICNA]

By doing US's job and bombing countries. Soon they might lose just like Vietnam, leave and call for US to invade Mali.

I'm totally disagree ,Mali president requested our help like you did for economical crisis.... (That cost a lot,more than providing help to a population under terroriseum ).
France NEVER requested any kinds of HELP ,the help has been provided by nation who agree to this fight and who are part of international security council
Why the france he's going there ? We have many french living there ,and we are historic ally with Mali

[Dolfagr]

How is it the USA's job? :poke:

Because they actually have the guts to fuck up the world and don't give a damn about what the rest says..

I'm totally disagree ,Mali president requested our help like you did for economical crisis.... (That cost a lot,more than providing help to a population under terroriseum ).
France NEVER requested any kinds of HELP ,the help has been provided by nation who agree to this fight and who are part of international security council
Why the france he's going there ? We have many french living there ,and we are historic ally with Mali

Mali was your colony until you drained out it's resources which've helped you built your countrys economy today. If I reckon, Syria was also your colony, shit's worse there, people asked you for help but I don't see you going there. Putin too tough for you?

[ICNA]

Because they actually have the guts to f**k up the world and don't give a damn about what the rest says..

WTF ! ???

If I reckon, Syria was also your colony, shit's worse there, people asked you for help but I don't see you going there. Putin too tough for you?

Probably because syria  don't have INTERNATIONAL agrement to declare war there , probably because Russia and China keep on saying no against Bashir alashad to continue bissness .China is providing foods ressources and nuclear meanwhile Russia is providing weapons If you want to fucked up the planet let's go in war !! I'm pretty sure Europe with us and USA ,can count on your poor army to help us no ?

Mali was your colony until you drained out it's resources which've helped you built your countrys economy today.

Oh yeah ,that's why we probably have more of Malian immigrants in one city here ,than in them country ,that's why like you ,we are giving infinity money each year !

Please bring more fact ,reals fact to argue

[Mikal]

Because they actually have the guts to f**k up the world and don't give a damn about what the rest says..

More like they are just power hungry and are following a path of that like the British Empire, to downfall.

[Dolfagr]

WTF ! ???

What's not to get? Maybe if you research more you'll see about American acomplishments. I am not talking about Hollywood.

Probably because syria  don't have INTERNATIONAL agrement to declare war there , probably because Russia and China keep on saying no against Bashir alashad to continue bissness .China is providing foods ressources and nuclear meanwhile Russia is providing weapons If you want to f**ked up the planet let's go in war

So instead, you leave the people die, fund the opposition which is composed of mostly Islamists, who then fund the same rebels who are killing your army. Very clever indeed.

Oh yeah ,that's why we probably have more of Malian immigrants in one city here ,than in them country ,that's why like you ,we are giving infinity money each year !

Marseille is a Greek city is that why you give us money?

Infinite money? Wow you must be really rich, or ignorant. We pay back double the amount we loaned, and it has killing affects on our people. In addition we are forced to buy all of your exports and equipment from the military industry so you make a lot of profit from the economical crisis.

!! I'm pretty sure Europe with us and USA ,can count on your poor army to help us no ?

Why would Greece join a war that is not ours? I am against war in all means necessary except for defending the freedom of our people and the sovereignty of our state, thanks.

More like they are just power hungry and are following a path of that like the British Empire, to downfall.

Eventually if not already because of the final recession.

[Mark_DeCaval]

  French army might have everything cool and new(same as before WW2), but back then it didn't checked out pretty much. Till today you can find advertisements: "French rifle from WW2, not shoot a single bullet, only drooped once"<-- no offence, but that's what i found around internet- jokes of course.

Anyway, I like political, economy and military discussions here., they are so... awesome and has that special spirit.

Since I heard some voices of new war comming and everyone declaring on some side I can tell you one thing:
Whatever weapon will be used in World War 3, I can ensure you that only weapon used in WW4 will be a stick.  :poke: so we should all pray it won't happen in our lifetime.

[ICNA]

So instead, you leave the people die, fund the opposition which is composed of mostly Islamists, who then fund the same rebels who are killing your army. Very clever indeed.

Rebels killed not more then 5 soldiers/hostages ,we killed 50 of them .... Not about numbers.... Just the operations we tried with one of the world best special rescue army resulted to a fail ,well that's can happen ,it's a risk.
What you would have done with your army ,when you can't even fill up them with fuel ?

Marseille is a Greek city is that why you give us money?

Massilia was 2000 years before JC ,If you keep looking in the past ,let's speak latin then !
We are giving money ,because extremist are about to take over your country bro ,like we supported you in 1974 to install democracy in your country,we still doing it so yeah we giving you money.Ask one of your parents about french support in 1970's

Infinite money? Wow you must be really rich, or ignorant. We pay back double the amount we loaned, and it has killing affects on our people. In addition we are forced to buy all of your exports and equipment from the military industry so you make a lot of profit from the economical crisis.

This is what it result when a governement fail to manage a country by NOT voting laws to keep benefits etc.... (You never paid any taxes )  ,Here we have 75% of taxes that's maybe too much ,but atleast we are not begging for money .
By the way ,i'm not rich .About ignorant confucius said :"The invective his only deshonoring his autor".

Why would Greece join a war that is not ours? I am against war in all means necessary except for defending the freedom of our people and the sovereignty of our state, thanks.

http://europa.eu/index_en.htm