14/01/2013

No British Troops In Mali - Cameron

David Cameron has again confirmed that Britain will not mount a military presence in Mali, despite its commitment to assisting French troops in a fight against Islamist rebels.

The UK will offer only logistical support to France, according to the PM.

The announcement follows the deployment of French troops to Mali, in the north west of Africa, on Friday.

The army has been battling militants in a bid to support the government in the former colony.

French armed forces have been assisting government troops in recapturing the central town of Konna.

A meeting of the UN Security Council is expected to meet today.

Meanwhile, two RAF C17 cargo planes sent by the UK to aid the French military have been delayed in Paris due to technical issues.

The first of the aircraft left RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Sunday and was stocked with French armoured vehicles and other equipment at the Evreux airbase in Normandy overnight.

It was delayed on its journey to Mali's capital, Bamako, on Monday morning. It is thought the plane will be ready to depart later.

A second C17 is due to leave the UK this morning.

David Cameron said: "What is being done in Mali is in our interests and should support France's actions."

He was speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"There is a very dangerous Islamist regime allied to al-Qaeda in control of the north of that country. It was threatening the south of that country and we should support the action that the French have taken," Mr Cameron said.

"So we were first out of the blocks, as it were, to say to the French 'we'll help you, we'll work with you and we'll share what intelligence we have with you and try to help you with what you are doing."

(IT)

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