Mali Conflict: France Aiming For 'Total Reconquest' -- BBC
France's military aim in Mali is its "total reconquest", French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said.
"We will not leave any pockets" of resistance, he told French television.
France has sent in 2,000 troops to help Malian forces fight Islamist militants who now control the northern half of the country.
Mr Le Drian said the former Islamist stronghold of Diabaly had not yet been retaken, even though the militants withdrew from the town two days ago.
However, he added that "everything points to a favourable evolution of the situation in Diabaly in the coming hours".
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Update: French launch 'total reconquest' of Mali -- The Australian
My Comment: The Mali rebels are not taking the bait of confronting face-to-face French forces .... they are instead preferring to blend in with the local population or to flee to their strong holds in northern Mali (at Kidal). As a result of this strategy ..... it seems that this 'reconquest' may end sooner than thought. But will a few thousand French and Mali soldiers now be able to hold onto a territory that is double the size of Texas .... on this issue I have my doubts.
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