UK may increase support for French 
in Mali

The Prime Minister told MPs the National Security Council meeting today would consider what “transport and surveillance” assets could be supplied.

The group which has claimed responsibility for the Algerian hostage outrage has warned of further attacks against any country backing France’s military intervention in neighbouring Mali.

Paris has sent in troops in a bid to prevent an advance by Islamic extremists who have taken over the north of the country.

Mr Cameron insisted there remained no intention for British combat forces to be involved on the ground but said it was right to support the French action.

“We are not seeking a combat role. We do believe that we should be supporting the French, who have taken emergency action to stop that country being overtaken by, effectively, an al-Qaida-backed group of rebels,” he 
told Labour leader Ed Miliband during a Commons statement about the aftermath of the hostage crisis.

“Help for the French will be discussed again at the National Security Council tomorrow.

“We have lent them two C17s (transport planes). We propose to continue with that and we will be looking at other transport and surveillance assets that we can let the French use to help them in what they are doing.”

Mr Cameron also indicated that the number of any British personnel involved in an EU training mission to Mali would be “in the tens, not in the hundreds”.

In his statement, he said: “We will work with the Malians themselves, with their neighbours and with our international allies to prevent a new terrorist haven developing on Europe’s doorstep.

“We support the French intervention that took place at the request of the Malian government and we are working to ensure that an African-led military force can – with the appropriate training and support – help to ensure Mali’s long-term stability.

“That support will include the EU training mission that was agreed by EU foreign ministers in Brussels last week.”

The Scottish National Party’s Angus Robertson questioned whether a proposed EU mission of 250 trainers and 200 close protection personnel was sufficient.

Mr Cameron told him: “The point of the EU training mission is it would be part of the process of training up the West African troops who want to play a part in stabilising and securing Mali.

“In terms of what this would mean is the total size of the mission would be perhaps around 500 personnel and if there was a British contribution to it, it would be in the tens, not in the hundreds.

“This is a training mission, not a combat mission. The lead on this is clearly going to be the French, who have the greatest interest in rapidly training up West African forces to replace the French forces currently in action.”

Meanwhile, French troops backed by helicopters and planes have advanced on the key Malian town of Diabaly, seized a week ago by Islamic extremists.

Among the rebels there were fighters under the command of the mastermind of Algeria’s recent terror attack.

Diabaly, a small town in central Mali, has been the scene of the first major battle in the war to retake the north of the country from fighters who have occupied the region for nine months.

“The operation in Diabaly is currently ongoing,” said a French military spokesman.

The town appeared to be back under control of Malian and French forces.

In the nearby countryside life was returning to normal as well. Families with suitcases and bags headed north in donkey-drawn carts, apparently returning home after fleeing the conflict.

Residents of Diabaly have said that the Islamists fled the town last week following days of French air strikes targeting them.

The French military, which began its offensive on January 11, said it again used fighters and helicopter gunships to carry out a dozen operations in Mali over the weekend.