French clash with Islamists in north Mali

Feb 06, 2013 |

Paris

French and Malian troops clashed with Islamist militants near the main northern Mali town of Gao, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said today, speaking of “real war.”

“There were clashes yesterday around Gao,” Le Drian said on Europe 1 radio, adding that the current force of 4,000 French troops in Mali would be the maximum deployed.

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