(Vatican Radio) French forces are engaged in action to defeat Islamic rebels in the
west African nation of Mali. France's military has been in action against Islamist
militants in Mali since Friday, helping government forces recapture the central town
of Konna. On Sunday, French warplanes bombed the town of Gao in eastern Mali, extending
their raids deep into rebel territory. Speaking at the weekend, Malian military leader
Amadou Sanogo welcomed the French involvement in the campaign. “We are happy to have
the French by our side,” he said. The British military is providing logistical support
to the French operations: a pair of C-17 transport aircraft flew French soldiers and
equipment to the theatre of operations between Saturday and Sunday. French Foreign
Minister Laurent Fabius has said that France's involvement in the campaign against
Islamist rebels in Mali will last "a matter of weeks". France has called a meeting
of the UN Security Council on Mali for Monday. Listen to our report: