Mali extends state of emergency

BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The Malian government has extended a nationwide state of emergency for three months. The decision was taken at a special cabinet meeting on the day that Malian and French soldiers recaptured two strategic towns, Diabaly and Douentza. It is a major boost to the 11-day joint military campaign. Meanwhile, Malian troops have been reinforcing their positions on the streets of Konna on Monday, the city whose capture by Islamic militants first prompted French military intervention in the West African state. The military operation is aimed at stopping the Islamists from encroaching towards the capital in Mali’s south from their strongholds in the vast, desert north. On Sunday, France said that some 400 troops from Nigeria, Togo and Benin had arrived in Bamako to help train an African force for Mali. (Source: cntv.com)