The Islamist group Ansaruddin released a statement urging fellow jihadist groups to keep up the fight in Mali, and claiming that its leader, Iyad Ag Ghaly, is currently leading military operations. France plans to start gradually reducing its troops in Mali from the current 4,000 to possibly 3,000 by July, with a transition to a UN force by September. The UN Secretary General proposed the creation of a 11,200-strong protective force of African troops under a UN mandate, supplemented by a parallel force for counterterrorism operations.
Bill Roggio is a regular guest on the John Batchelor Show from Monday through Friday to discuss the war. Check John's site for the time. Click here to listen live online at WABC.