French Forces Advancing towards Mali's Islamist-Held North
French forces are advancing towards Mali's Islamist-held north after taking up positions in the towns of Niono and Sevare, a spokesman for the French military operation codenamed Serval said Sunday.
"The deployment towards the north of the forces of Operation Serval, which began 24 hours ago, is on course with troops inside the towns of Niono and Sevare," Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Dosseur told reporters.
Niono is about 350 kilometers (220 miles) northeast of the capital Bamako and 60 kilometers south of Diabaly, which was seized on Monday by Islamists and then heavily bombed by French planes.
Sevare has a strategically important airport which could help serve as a base for operations further north. It is about 630 kilometers north-east of Bamako.
Source: Agence France Presse
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