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Tuesday, Nov 13, 2012 10:45 AM UTC

France rules out any use of air power in Mali

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Topics: From the Wires,

PARIS (AP) — Neither France nor Europe will intervene militarily to oust al-Qaida and its allies from northern Mali — not even with air strikes — the French defense minister said Tuesday.

Jean-Yves Le Drian provided details on France’s longstanding promise not to send ground forces in support of a planned international effort led by African troops to recover the area for Mali’s shaky government, adding that there would be no attacks from the air either.

However, he told the European American Press Club in Paris, France could gather intelligence for African forces, or provide training.

“When we say no troops on the ground, that means ‘troops in the air’ too,” said Le Drian. “But bringing in information, intelligence is another thing.”

France fears that the vast desert area under control of Al-Qaida’s north African branch and its allies could become a sanctuary for terrorists to possibly plot attacks in Europe or seize Western hostages.

A French defense official recently told The Associated Press that France was preparing to transfer by year-end two unarmed surveillance drones to Africa from Afghanistan, where French combat troops have been pulling out of the NATO-led mission.

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