French army could send 4 main battle tanks Leclerc to support military operations in Mali 2401131

Mali's army chief Tuesday, January 22, 2013, said his French-backed forces could reclaim the northern towns of Gao and fabled Timbuktu from Islamists in a month, as more offers of aid poured in for the offensive.

French land forces continue to strengthen their positions between the cities of Diabaly and Konna. A company of the 3e RIMa (3e Marine Infantry Regiment of French Army) was sent from France and deployed on the airport to protect the area in coordination with French air commandos.

African soldiers are deployed to Bamako and Niamey, totaling more than 1,500 soldiers. The operation Serval mobilises nearly 2,300 French soldiers.

A Malian defence official said that 160 soldiers from Burkina Faso had arrived in Markala, 270 kilometres (170 miles) north of the capital Bamako, to "take up the baton from the French" guarding a strategic bridge on the Niger river.

The UN has authorised the deployment of a 3,300-strong force under the auspices of 15-nation West African bloc ECOWAS. But the involvement of Chad, which has committed up to 2,000 troops, means the force could now be much bigger.