Published on Jan 12, 2013 : A French pilot has been killed in fighting in Mali, as the European nation continues to launch air strikes against Islamist militants. It comes after Mali's government troops chased rebels out of the key central town of Konna - aided by the French military. The UN Security Council called for a 'speedy deployment' of international forces to battle the rebels - who'd seized the north of the country last April, and since made significant advances.
President Hollande announced on Friday that the intervention in Mali 'would last as long as necessary'.
