Islamist rebel forces have taken control of Diabaly town, in Mali’s centre, along the street leading to Bamako capital.
Sunday, 13 January, 2013
Mali: France steps up air strikes in Mali’s Islamist-held north for a third straight day
French forces on Sunday carried out airstrikes in Mali for a third straight day and extended their bombing campaign to the northern strongholds of Islamist forces they are trying to drive out of the centre of the country.
The strikes, designed to support Malian army efforts to push al-Qaeda-linked groups back to the north of the vast West African state, were reported to have claimed the life of a prominent Islamist leader and up to 100 rank-and-file fighters.
Burma-Myanmar: Kachin rebels say they have shot down a government helicopter
Kachin ethnic rebels battling the army in northern Burma say they have shot down a government helicopter, but the army says it crashed due to engine failure.
An emailed announcement from the Kachin guerrillas says they shot down the helicopter late on Friday as heavy fighting raged.
Saturday, 12 January, 2013
Sudan: Army kill over 50 Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) rebels in South Kordofan
Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) repulsed an attack on its positions southward of the capital of South Kordofan state where they killed over 50 rebels, said Al-Sawarmi Khaled spokesperson in a statement released on Friday .
The Sudanese troops are fighting since more than a year the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in South Kordofan where the rebels are mainly present in southern and eastern parts of the troubled state .
France: Army launched airstrikes against islamist militants in Mali
France launched airstrikes yesterday to help the government of Mali defeat al-Qaida-linked militants who captured more ground this week.
French President Francois Hollande said the “terrorist groups, drug traffickers and extremists” in northern Mali “show a brutality that threatens us all.” He vowed that the operation would last “ as long as necessary.”
France said it was taking the action in Mali at the request of President Dioncounda Traore, who declared a state of emergency because of the militants’ advance.