French soldiers begin Mali land assault

BAMAKO, Mali -- French soldiers pressed north in Mali territory occupied by radical Islamists yesterday, with a land assault that was to put them in direct combat with al-Qaida-linked fighters "in one to 72 hours," military officials said.

Their presumed destination was the town of Diabaly, where fleeing residents said Islamist extremists had taken over their homes and were preventing others from leaving. They said the militants were melting into the population and moving in small groups on streets in the mud-walled neighborhoods to avoid being targeted by the French.

"They have beards. And they wear boubous [a flowing robe]. No one approaches them. Everyone is afraid," said Ibrahim Komnotogo, who was out of town when the militants seized Diabaly over the weekend but kept in contact by telephone with other residents.

French ground operations in Mali began overnight, France's military chief of staff, Adm. Edouard Guillaud, said on Europe 1 television yesterday. He stressed that French infantry units "will be fighting directly in the coming hours."

Armored vehicles carrying French troops were seen heading toward Niono, 210 miles northeast of Bamako. Diabaly lies 45 miles farther northeast. Over the weekend, rebel vehicles cut off the road to Diabaly, seizing the town and its strategic military camp. French warplanes have since carried out strikes on the camp. -- AP