Hollande: France aims to oust rebels from Mali

[NewsCaster]

Richard Nicolas-Nelson / Ecpad via APThis picture released by the French Army Communications Audiovisual office shows French Mirage 2000 D aircraft flying to Mali overnight Thursday into Friday. By John Irish, Catherine Bremer and Mark John, ReutersUpdated at 3:25 p.m. ET: As French aircraft pounded rebel fighters in Mali for a second day Saturday, President Francois Hollande that France will pursue operations to oust Islamist rebels in the West Africa country.

The intervention, which Hollande said will be African-led, will step up anti-terrorist security measures. Neighboring West African states sped up their plans to deploy troops in the international campaign to prevent groups linked to al Qaida expanding their power base.

"We have already held back the progress of our adversaries and inflicted heavy  losses on them. But our mission is not over yet," Hollande said.

French forces earlier launched airstrikes against Islamist  rebels and sent troops to protect the capital city of Bamako in an operation  involving several hundred soldiers, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le  Drian said.

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