French Air Force Supporting Malian Army

Helping in latest fight against Islamic militants

The Malian army is being backed by French air force planes in a fresh counter-offensive against Islamists, a Mali government official has told the AFP news agency.

"European military, including French, are present in Mali to repel any southward advance by the Islamists," a Malian official told AFP on Friday. "We will not reveal their number, nor where they are based, nor what equipment they have.