(22 Jan 2013)
Segou
1. Various of French military convoy passing through Segou heading in direction of Marakala
2. Mid of men at side of road watching convoy of vehicles
3. Tracking shot of convoy
4. Wide of Malian military helicopter flying overhead
Marakala
5. Mid of members of French Foreign Legion manning position just north of the Marakala
6. Mid of soldier resting under tree
7. Mid of soldier looking through binoculars
Segou
8. Various of women sifting wheat in fields next to road to Marakala
STORYLINE:
Malian and French forces continued to push into the Islamist-held north on Tuesday ,with convoys of French reinforcements now a common sight on the highway linking the capital Bamako with the front lines.
Islamist fighters have controlled the vast desert stretches of the north, with the weak government clinging to the south, since a military coup in the capital in March last year unleashed chaos.
France has about 3,150 troops now involved in the military operation code-named Operation Serval, all but 1,000 of whom are currently deployed in the former French colony.
It said on Monday that about 1,000 African troops from Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Niger and Chad are now taking part in the intervention.
France hopes West African soldiers will eventually take the lead alongside Malian troops in securing the country.
Neighbouring African countries are ultimately expected to contribute around 3,000 troops but concerns about the mission have delayed some from sending their promised troops.
On Monday French and Malian forces took Diabaly, which lies about 196 kilometers (121 miles) west of Mopti, after Islamist fighters who had seized it a week earlier fled amid French air strikes.
The presence of Malian soldiers in the two towns marks tangible accomplishments for the French-led mission, which began on January 11 after the rebels pushed south and threatened Bamako.
But there are grave doubts that the Malian army will be able to hold newly recovered territory without foreign support.
The coup disrupted the chain of command and Malian soldiers last year repeatedly gave up towns to the insurgents while putting up little, or no, fight.
The US has begun transporting French troops and equipment to Mali, a US military spokesman said on Tuesday.
The US Air Force has flown five C-17 flights into Bamako, delivering more than 80 French troops and 124 tons of equipment thus far in an ongoing airlift operation.
A Pentagon spokesman said the US was still considering a French request for US aerial refuelling support.


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