France planning troop surge in Mali war

These are the latest developments from the French military intervention in Mali:

*French troop presence in Mali will build up to 2,500 soldiers, defence ministry sources say.

*A first group of Nigerian troops will arrive in Mali within 24 hours, army spokesman says.

*UN says there are 150,000 Malian refugees and 230,000 displaced inside country.

*France receives unanimous “understanding and support” from UN Security Council for its military action in Mali.

*French parliament will debate the Mali intervention on Wednesday, but will not hold vote.

France’s military intervention in Mali will build up to 2,500 French soldiers, defence ministry sources said Tuesday, as the offensive in the divided African country entered its fifth day.

President François Hollande, on a state visit to the United Arab Emirates, said earlier on Tuesday that French troop presence had already been boosted to 750 soldiers and would continue to rise.

Citing sources close to French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, the AFP news agency said that France’s fighting force in the troubled African country would “progressively reach” the new figure.

On Monday, Paris received unanimous backing from the 15-member UN Security Council, while it continued to launch air strikes in northern Mali against Islamist rebels who control the region.

“All our allies have recognized that France is acting in accordance to international law and the UN charter,” French ambassador to the UN Gérard Araud told reporters in New York. He insisted that his country's objective was to oversee the “rapid implementation of UN Resolution 2085” that was adopted last month.

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