France's defence minister has said he backs the idea of sending a UN peacekeeping force to Mali. Jean-Yves Le Drian's comments come as the French troops continue to secure the most northerly town of Kidal. France has deployed some 4,500 troops during the three-week offensive against militant Islamists in the north of Mali - an area the size of France. But is now preparing to hand over the towns it has captured to an African force, expected to number 7,700. So far about 2,000 African soldiers, mainly from Chad and Niger, are thought to be on the ground in Mali. Continue reading the main story Mali crisis...
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