Mali Rebels Capture Government Controlled Town

{{Islamist fighters in Mali have seized a town in government-controlled territory amid a military intervention by France.}}

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Diabaly, 400km (250 miles) from the capital, Bamako, was taken in a counter-attack on Monday.

Mr Le Drian insisted France’s campaign was “developing favourably”.

He said Islamists had retreated in the east but admitted French forces were facing a “difficult” situation against well-armed rebels in western areas.

France has called a meeting of the UN Security Council for Monday.

France began its military intervention last Friday in an attempt to halt the advance of Islamist rebels towards Bamako from bases in the north and east.

Separately, Mr Le Drian said he feared militants in Somalia were planning to stage a “macabre” display of the bodies of two French soldiers killed during a failed attempt to rescue a French hostage.

Friday’s raid came hours after the French intervention in Mali.

{BBC}