Mali: France pledges 'short' campaign against Islamists

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".

On Sunday, French warplanes bombed the town of Gao in eastern Mali, extending their raids deep into rebel territory.

France's military has been in action against Islamist militants in Mali since Friday, helping government forces recapture the central town of Konna.

France has called a meeting of the UN Security Council on Mali for Monday.

Speaking to French media, Mr Fabius rejected any parallel with the protracted Western mission in Afghanistan.

The UK has provided two C17 transport planes to aid the French effort and Mr Fabius said practical support was also coming from the US, Denmark and other European countries.

Islamist groups in West Africa are still holding several French hostages and have threatened reprisals against them and other French targets.

This prompted the French government to step up security across France on Saturday.