Colonel Thierry Burkhard, a French military spokesman in Paris, said Saturday that French and Malian forces came under fire in the morning and continued to face sporadic “acts of harassment” later in the afternoon.
France also confirmed that its forces, aided by the Malian Army, took control of Gao international airport and Wabaria bridge in Gao, but said that fighting continued in the town.
The airport is located about six kilometers east of Gao, and the bridge is at the southern entrance of the town, which is the fighters’ stronghold.
The war on Mali continues as France and Mali have imposed total media blackout on developments on the ground.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that nearly 380,000 people have fled their homes to seek safety both inside and outside of Mali.
“Since the start of the conflict in northern Mali a year ago, more than 150,000 refugees have fled to neighboring Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso, while nearly 230,000 have sought safety in other areas inside Mali,” the UN agency said.
On January 11, France launched the war under the pretext of halting the advance of the fighters who control the north of Mali. It has already deployed 2,300 troops to the West African country.
The United States, Canada, Britain, Belgium, Germany, and Denmark have said they will support the French war in Mali.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has also pledged to support the French war by sending 5,800 soldiers to Mali.
Some political analysts believe that Mali’s abandoned natural resources, including gold and uranium reserves, could be one of the reasons behind the French war.
SAB/HGH
Source Article from http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/01/26/285688/france-says-forces-under-fire-in-mali/
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