France halts rebels advance in Mali

The first soldiers promised by West African bloc ECOWAS to support Malian forces in their counter-offensive against Islamist rebels were due to be deployed as early as Sunday, an ECOWAS official said. French aircraft have already halted a rebel advance.
A French fighter aircraft prepared for take off at a base in Chad on Friday. Net Photo
A French fighter aircraft prepared for take off at a base in Chad on Friday. Net Photo
Quartz