EU countries back France on Mali air strikes

Fellow EU countries and the US backed France's unilateral decision to start bombing rebel groups in north Mali.

The French attacks began on the 11 January 2013 when Mali appealed to France, the former colonial power in the region, for help after hostile forces surged toward the town of Mopti, a regional capital.

• Primary Source

EU: EEAS: EU relations with Mali http://eeas.europa.eu/mali/index_en.htm

BBC News, 14.01.13: Mali: France pledges 'short' campaign against Islamists http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21007517

France24, 13.01.13: France steps up air strikes in Mali's Islamist-held north http://www.france24.com/en/20130113-ecowas-african-troops-expected-mali-islamists-france

European Commission: SPEECH/13/21: Statement on the situation in Mali http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-21_en.htm

France24, 15.01.13: French anti-terror judge says ‘no choice’ but war in Mali http://www.france24.com/en/20130115-war-mali-terror-al-qaeda-france-judge-trevidic

France24, 20.01.13: Fate of strategic Malian town remains unclear http://www.france24.com/en/20130120-mali-strategic-diabaly-islamists-france-war

France24, 20.01.13: Death toll expected to rise in Algeria hostage crisis http://www.france24.com/en/20130120-algeria-hostage-crisis-death-toll-expected-rise

PressEurop, 18.01.13: It’s our war too http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/editorial/3289241-it-s-our-war-too

EUObserver, 23.01.13: Mali mission could increase risk of anti-EU terrorism http://euobserver.com/defence/118821

EEAS: Security and Defence - CSDP: Missions and Operations: EUTM-Mali http://www.eeas.europa.eu/csdp/missions-and-operations/eutm-mali/index_en.htm

Council of the European Union: Fight against terrorism http://www.consilium.europa.eu/policies/fight-against-terrorism?lang=en

EUObserver, 25.01.13: French colonel: France better off alone in Mali http://euobserver.com/defence/118858

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