Mali Crisis: 350 UK Military Personnel Sent to West Africa
The UK is to deploy about 350 military personnel to Mali and West Africa to support French forces, No 10 has said.
This includes up to 40 military advisers who will train soldiers in Mali and 200 British soldiers to be sent to neighbouring African countries to assist in the training of the army.
Britain has offered a roll-on, roll-off ferry to transport equipment to the French force in Mali.
It said the UK was doing what it could to support the French mission.
‘Regional approach’
French-led troops are consolidating their position in the historic Malian city of Timbuktu after seizing it from Islamist extremists.
In Brussels later, defence officials are set to discuss details of the planned European Union-led training mission to build up the Malian army.
The BBC’s Norman Smith says the British team of 40 military advisers is expected to be sent to Mali “fairly urgently”.
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