Bridge wrecked to delay troops

Sevare, Mali – Islamist extremists based in the Malian town of Ansongo have destroyed a bridge near the Niger border, officials said today, marking the first use of explosives by the insurgents since the start of a French-led military intervention two weeks ago.

The explosion shows that the extremists remain a nimble and daunting enemy, despite gains by the French, who have recaptured three towns from the insurgents and today pushed towards the Islamist stronghold of Gao, one of three provincial capitals controlled by the al Qaedalinked rebels.

Djibril Diallo, the village chief of Fafa, 20 kilometres from the bridge, said residents had called him to confirm that members of the Movement for the Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) had travelled to the outskirts of Tassiga yesterday, before destroying the bridge crossing into the town.

The MUJAO fighters travelled from the locality of Ansongo, roughly 40km from Tassiga.

Julie Damond, a spokeswoman for aid group Doctors Without Borders, said several people were being treated at Ansongo’s hospital after a bus they were travelling in fell into a hole in the bridge caused by the blast.

The attack appeared aimed at stopping the advance of African troops stationed in neighbouring Niger, who are expected to travel by road into Mali past Tassiga in order to retake the strategic town of Gao.

Despite these setbacks, Mali’s military and French forces pushed toward Gao today, in their furthest advance north and east since launching an operation two weeks ago to recapture territory controlled by the rebels.

The northeastward push puts them just 250km from Gao, one of three main northern cities that have been held by the Islamists since last April, when they took advantage of the chaotic aftermath of a coup to seize Mali’s northern half, an area larger than Afghanistan.

Since France began its military operation two weeks ago with air strikes followed by a ground assault, the Islamists have retreated from three cities in central Mali, including Diabaly, Konna and Douentza.

They still control most of the territory in Mali’s north, most importantly the three provincial capitals there – Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu.

France has about 2400 forces in Mali, a former French colony, and has said they will stay for as long as they are needed.

However, it has called for African nations to take the lead in fortifying the Malian army’s efforts.