U.K. Sends Spy Plane to Mali

Helping support the French-led intervention

LONDON: A British surveillance plane took off on Friday to support French military operations against al Qaeda-linked rebels in Mali, the Ministry of Defence said.

The Sentinel plane lifted off from RAF Waddington airbase in eastern England "to an airbase in Africa, in support of French military operations in Mali", a spokesman said, adding it will be based in neighbouring Senegal.

Britain has already contributed two C-17 transport planes to France to airlift military equipment to Mali, although only one of the giant planes is still being used.