France surprised by Mali Islamists' fighting strength
Paris, 13 Jan - (ANA) - France has expressed surprise at the fighting strength of Islamists in Mali, as the nation kept up its bombing of militant targets for a third day. A presidential official in Paris said the militants were "well-trained, well-equipped and well-armed", according to the AFP news agency. The Islamists had got hold of up-to-date and sophisticated weaponry after Libya conflict, the official added. France also said the militants suffered "significant" casualties in air raids. Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that hangars and "sensitive sites" were destroyed as part of an offensive to drive back Islamists, who still control large swathes of northern Mali. France's decision to intervene so soon took many by surprise. A UN-backed international force had not been expected to deploy in the west African state until the autumn. But last week the Islamists pushed further south, seizing the strategically important town of Konna. The town has since been recaptured by Malian troops. The unnamed Elysee Palace official quoted by AFP said on Sunday that French armed forcesnhad been surprised by the fighting quality of the Islamist militants they were up against. "What has really struck us is how up-to-date their equipment is, and the way they've been trained to use it..." the official said.
"At the start, we thought they would be just a load of guys with guns driving about in their pick-ups, but the reality is that they are well-trained, well-equipped, and well-armed. "From Libya they have got hold of a lot of up-to-date sophisticated equipment which is much more robust and effective than we could have imagined." French President Francois Hollande said France and Europe would be threatened by the creation of a "terrorist state" in Mali. Troops from neighbouring African states - Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Togo - are expected to arrive in Mali within days to support the government. France's military effort in its former colony has been supported by the US and UK, which is offering assistance with transport. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has ruled out sending German troops to fight in Mali but welcomed "the fact that the Malian army, with the support of France and African states, has managed to stop the Islamists' advance".(ANA)
FA/ANA/13 January 2013---------