French jets strike northern Mali towns
Bombardment of rebels strongholds come as Russia and Canada "offer" logistical support to French and African troops.
The MNLA launched a rebellion in northern Mali early in 2012, wresting control of the region from government forces
after a military coup in March which was prompted by the government's handling of the uprising.
As French troops consolidated gains in Mali, France said the aim was its "total reconquest".
"The goal is the total reconquest of Mali. We will not leave any pockets" of resistance, Jean-Yves Le Drian, French defence minister, said on France 5 television.
He also said seven French citizens taken hostage by fighters in Niger and Mali in recent years were alive, adding there had been "contacts with the hostage-takers".
Help offered
Earlier, Laurent Fabius, French foreign minister, said Russia had offered to help transport troops and supplies to Mali and Canada had offered help to transport African troops to the country.
Only about 100 soldiers from a planned 5,800- strong African force have so far reached Mali, while France said has 2,000 soldiers already on the ground.
Asked on Europe 1 radio on Sunday about how African troops would be transported, Fabius said "there is transportation that will be partly by the Africans themselves, partly by the Europeans and partly by the Canadians."
He said "the Russians have proposed to provide means of transport for the French, so it's fairly diverse".
The announcement came a day after an emergency West African summit of the ECOWAS regional bloc called on the UN "to immediately provide financial and logistical backing for the deployment of MISMA", to the African
force.
after a military coup in March which was prompted by the government's handling of the uprising.
As French troops consolidated gains in Mali, France said the aim was its "total reconquest".
"The goal is the total reconquest of Mali. We will not leave any pockets" of resistance, Jean-Yves Le Drian, French defence minister, said on France 5 television.
He also said seven French citizens taken hostage by fighters in Niger and Mali in recent years were alive, adding there had been "contacts with the hostage-takers".
Help offered
Earlier, Laurent Fabius, French foreign minister, said Russia had offered to help transport troops and supplies to Mali and Canada had offered help to transport African troops to the country.
Only about 100 soldiers from a planned 5,800- strong African force have so far reached Mali, while France said has 2,000 soldiers already on the ground.
Asked on Europe 1 radio on Sunday about how African troops would be transported, Fabius said "there is transportation that will be partly by the Africans themselves, partly by the Europeans and partly by the Canadians."
He said "the Russians have proposed to provide means of transport for the French, so it's fairly diverse".
The announcement came a day after an emergency West African summit of the ECOWAS regional bloc called on the UN "to immediately provide financial and logistical backing for the deployment of MISMA", to the African
force.
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