but this one moment, there were able to take bamako.we decided what was at stake was the existence of the state of mali and beyond mali was the stability of all west africa. so it is with determination, but also with reluctance, that we have decided that we had no other choice but to launch this military intervention. again, we conducted as long as it will be necessary. >> the u.s. has backed france. the l.a. times reports the obama administration is preparing to ferry hundreds of additional french troops to mali. in addition, u.s. officials said they're making plans to send drones or other surveillance aircraft. france is also calling on the force of 3300 west african troops to deploy in support of the malian army. the french strikes in mali reportedly have killed 11 civilians including three children fleeing the bombardment of a camp near the central town of konna. the an estimate says as many as 30,000 may have been displaced since fighting began last week. the international committee of the red cross. >> the situation is of concern.

government officials in bamako have called this a welcome shift. there is a sense of guarded optimism among people here that the old coalition might once again unite in mali. >> i -- i am very happy with the french intervention. i would like the crisis to come to a end so we can go back home. >> i do not see any other solution, military-wise. how can you negotiate with terrorists to are foreigners occupying our country? it is not possible. the man who led mali into trouble -- he wounded malian alters. >> i am telling the malian people, thank you for support to our national army. we have launched defenses without assistance and are happy to have the french by our side, planning a major role in air support and operations. >> support for the operation is the highest tier -- one of the main streets, french and malian flags side-by-side. the french have been bringing in troops to mali. 100 soldiers arrived here on sunday. they say their forces will stop the rebel advance and pave the way for other soldiers from the west african boc air force. >> -- bloc

very happy. >> bamako remains a liberal city. leading clerics have been very vocal in supporting the effort against the radical islamist forces. >> i think these days we have to give a new direction and a new vision to islam across the world -- and is lomb of development, of progress, one that fits the realities of the world. >> but the rebels in northern mali have a very different vision of islam. this man fled to the south after they chop off his hand, punishment for using a mobile phone. men at the market say the radicals in the north are religious fanatics from libya. they say they pray that god will give the soldiers strengths to free the country. >> we go to venezuela now where at least 50 people are reported dead and 90 other in years after -- 90 others injured after a military operation. a riot erupted at the prison when venezuela's national guard was sent in to conduct a search operation after receiving information that rival inmate gangs were armed. >> official sources said a violent iraq -- violence erupted when securi

she is in bamako. we asked what the situation was like there. >> the situation is calm, normal. everyday life continues. people go to work. they go shopping. however, there are, of course [indiscernible] after the intervention on, cup. everyone is taking some precautions. there are more police. there is a higher police presence on the street. >> the french intervention has the full backing of the u.n. security council, but how do the people in mali feel about it? >> they are extremely grateful for an intervention because it came exactly at the moment when it was needed. they completely support it. for example, when you go downtown, -- these days, france is really the biggest friend of mali. >> the fighting in mali is already having an impact in neighboring algeria. al qaeda deftly militants claim to be holding as many as 41 foreign hostages, many of them westerners, after attacking gas facilities in algeria. the u.s. has confirmed its nationals are among those being held. two people were reported killed when gunmen stormed a site. the gas facility near the libyan border is joint

she is in bamako. we asked what the situation was like there. >> the situation is calm, normal. everyday life continues. people go to work. they go shopping. however, there are, of course [indiscernible] after the intervention on, cup. everyone is taking some precautions. there are more police. there is a higher police presence on the street. >> the french intervention has the full backing of the u.n. security council, but how do the people in mali feel about it? >> they are extremely grateful for an intervention because it came exactly at the moment when it was needed. they completely support it. for example, when you go downtown, -- these days, france is really the biggest friend of mali. >> the fighting in mali is already having an impact in neighboring algeria. al qaeda deftly militants claim to be holding as many as 41 foreign hostages, many of them westerners, after attacking gas facilities in algeria. the u.s. has confirmed its nationals are among those being held. two people were reported killed when gunmen stormed a site. the gas facility near the libyan border is joint

here in bamako there has been a huge response to the call by the president for the people of mali to help their weak army. at a medical facility in one of the spushes, people have gather todd donate blood. they are responding to a request from the interim president and religious leaders to support the country's forces whichever way they can. >> we are ready to respond any request from our government. if it calls us to fight, we will respond. we are ready to die. >> they have donated money to the government. there is a sense of guarded optimism among people here that the operation might once again unite mali. >> i left the north after it was taken over. i am very happy with the french intervention. i would like the crisis to come to an end so we can go back home. >> i don't see any other solution than a military one. how can you negotiate with terrorists who have occupied our country? it is not possible. >> and the man who led the c everyone oup last year -- the coupe last year visited people. >> i am telling the people thank you for the support of your army. we have lost offensed wit

it is just 400 kilometers north of the capital bamako. it is the first place the french soldiers have begun their ground assault against the rebels. >> french soldiers struggling to aly.ke control of diabelli's do we know when more african troops are scheduled to arrive to fight alongside the french? >> nigerians are expected here today. 490 of them out of the 600 that nigeria has agreed to contribute to the mission for the military support of mali. there are also 507 soldiers from niger. they just received the consent of their parliament. they are expected to cross the border at any time and come into mali to join the mission. countries such as burkina faso, chad, and ghana participating as well. 2000 troops from chad. thousands of african troops are expected to support the french and malian forces. they are appealing for help particularly from european countries for logistical as well as financial help to support the mission in support of the mali government. >> thank you. al-shabab says it has killed a suspected french spy at the cente

and the government in bamako panicked, called france for assistance and france intervened.there is a very large community of people from mali, about 200,000 living in paris, living in france. and france was worried that these malian nationals would be influenced by the extremists back home and carry out attacks. frantz had intelligence an attack may have been in the active planning stages. >> france's reaction to what happened in mali and the u.s. reaction to what france did is fascinating at the outset. it's going to be more fascinating when we see the extent of how much the u.s. decides to be in support. will cow i don't mean back and talk to us more with a big map? >> bring the map. and will you say bullpucky? >> i will say bullpucky, but never accusingly at you. >> maybe. it depends on what i say. >> that's true. richard engel, nbc's chief foreign correspondent. all right. we'll be right back. >>> president obama today chose the license plates that are going to be on his limo when he driven to the capitol to be inaugurated on monday. they say taxation without representa

french soldiers have already joined the mali troops 400 kilometers north of bamako.anine moshiri is in the capital. where are french troops now exactly? are they in rebel-held territory? >> diabaly is a town which is in the government-controlled area, in the north. the french are surrounding the town, from what we understand, with malian forces. there have been reports that there might of been some engagement on the ground, but we cannot confirm that. we have been trying to get through to people in diabaly, but the phone lines and mobile lines have been cut off, so it is very difficult to get information on the ground. it is interesting that the french had consistently said they would only be striking from them and giving logistical support, but now it seems they are carrying out their first land offensive. the french have 800 troops here on the ground. they have said they will double have said theye will double back to 2000 forces or 2500 altogether. ansar al din is one of the armed groups who have taken over the town of diabaly with sophisticated weapons. they had

. >> for more, we go back to andrea, who just returned from bamako. house the situation in the areas where the rebels have been driven out? >> there's many images of cheering crowds. african troops are supposed to be deployed. they're not yet there, so it is still the beginning of operations there. >> where have the islamist fighters have been retreating to? will the french be pursuing them? >> actually, this is the question everybody has right now. the militants are going out toward the mauritania border. also, they are mostly hiding all over the north. there is still a lot to do to clean up no. mali. >> what about those who say they will not allow government forces to return to the areas under their control? >> all told, they are really marginalized. as we have been -- they have been pushed away by islamists, we have not much power to actually defend their stance. >> thank you very much for that. >> on 2 news now of apparent executions in syria. activists say at least 65 men have been found dead in the northern city of aleppo. the bodies were found

. >> reporter: when we arrived at the main military air field in bamako, we found u.s. transport planes had already started to land, five in all, bringing in more than 100 tons of gear, and soldiers from a military base in france. the fighter planes, the armored vehicles, the helicopters, they are all french. and so are the soldiers-- 2,800 french boots on the ground here in mali. but behind the scenes, this is an international effort. and the war very few saw coming. the u.s. air force role is critical. colonel kevin oliver is one of the operations commanders. >> it's a very dynamic situation. we expect the operations to continue for the next several days. >> reporter: here's what triggered the french assault-- well-armed fighters linked to al qaeda, financed by money from smuggling and kidnap ransoms had been taking over town after town in northern mali since last spring, and imposing their own harsh brand of islamic law. last week, with the extremists only 300 miles from the capital, and malian troops powerless to stop them, the french government launched a series of

about four hundred kilometers northeast of bamako was launched from across the border in mauritania that will be a huge problem for the for the for the kind of france so it's our eyes and i just wanted to ask you the islamists that you're talking about there they've pledged of they war terror attacks if the invasion continues is there an effective way there for the french to do with such tactics a kind of caught between a rock at our place. absolutely and you know as soon as the the strange thing about all of this is that before france came in a couple of weeks ago there was quite a lot of. evidence that the islamist coalition was beginning to show quite a few cracks it's such it's such a hodgepodge of different people different ethnic backgrounds you know. they're even carlos song line now or who are in the city of fighting for them. which is the islamist organization that rule gowan other major city and in eastern mali and all this funny strange coalition was beginning to show signs of weakness basically and there's even a theory which i give some credence to that the islamists attacke

in bamako, we met the young men who say they are willing to join the fight to free northern mali. members of the malian youth league -- they are eager for a fight. >> we rode to the ministry of defence asking for guns and to be taken to the front lines. we have been taken after training -- we are ready to defend our people. >> but with the impending deployment of west african troops and international support, it is unlikely >> the top stories on algeciras this hour. president barack obama has announced his gun control measures -- his proposals include a ban on assault rifles and a limit to high-capacity magazines. he is likely to face strong opposition from congress. federal officials are grounding until's dreamliner addresses -- problems with the lithium batteries are addressed. this comes after a japanese plane had to make an emergency landing. dozens of foreign workers are being held hostage at a gas facility in eastern algeria. two people root killed in the attack -- they say it is revenge for french intervention in neighboring mali. heavy fighting between the free syria army

troops and potential set to exceed two hundred thousand the stated goal to help the government in bamako drive out to slimmest insurgents before the francoise lands talk of freedom and democracy for six a the french government says you see as end of the military offensive could be linked to other elements u.a.d. of these fronts. many people say huge parts of it's a huge factor in its economy and it's something that not only mali but specifically niger and other neighboring parts where the tourist people reside. sits on top of almost every single light bulb in france runs on electricity generated by nuclear power power relies on a steady flow of pure raney and so you don't have to be a nuclear physicist to figure out that to keep all these bright lights on the french government depends on a steady flow of the precious natural resource but money says mr i learned is no it's about power or money so that you know secured this has nothing to do with any political issue from a different time if we are defending a government or business interests which government which business it will be some

borders and we know that the attack on javelin this town about four hundred kilometers northeast of bamako was launched from across the border in march that will be a huge problem for the for the for the kind of france and its allies and later today and actually later next hour about lost his gas the wedding to mention in mali is part of a bigger campaign against islam and what lessons could be learned from previous attempts to fight terror all that and more in cross talk or not. it's the worst military intervention in mali still another example of the worst overall war against islam has it ever been one instance where an outside intervention in the name of fighting terrorism has ever produced peace stability and democracy and with the lessons of blowback ever be learned. coming up next the jordanians choose a parliament in the first poor have to arab spring uprisings resulted in a region while turbulence but as the muslim brotherhood is boycott the whole and calling for protests separate jordan may well suffer the unrest it folded aborted. and we can be exposed to a series of messages onl

borders and we know that the attack on javelin this town about four hundred kilometers northeast of bamako was launched from across the border in mark saying that will be a huge problem for the for the for the kind of france and its allies. and libyan based islamists are accused of helping the deadly hostage taking in algeria which came in response to france's actions in mali later in the day here on r.t. people of ellen has crossed all guests discussed whether the west is on a massive campaign against islam islam as a whole or just exactly where it could lead. united states is involved in about fifty four countries on the continent of africa right now finding people that maybe six months to six years down the road turn out to be. the bad guy so we are creating little fires all over africa and i don't think that you knighted states taxpayer is fully aware of this and would fully be on board with the idea that our ever dwindling resources are going to pay for all of these. incursions there were relationships. i don't use come in your life from moscow now exactly twenty minutes past the hour

militant suv seize vast areas in the north of the former french colony from moving towards the capital bamako but the operation has led to the first retaliation now the militants have raided a b.p. gas field in neighboring algeria killing two people and kidnapping a group of around twenty european u.s. and japanese workers that have it done a spokesman for marine le pen president of the national front says this could be a result of france's reckless politics now we're on the third level of four actually concerning the privilege of being attacked by terrorist groups on our own soil it is linked to our international actions and wars that we are leading of course we are aware of that and it's true it's a reality in libya we supported the revolution who has helped islamist militants to get a lot of money and weapons now today we have to clean. in mali but still we are defending islamist fighting in syria so there is a kind of problem here or in the international level of the french politics many of those who are now fighting the government in the western forces were reportedly trained by american

borders and we know that the attack on javelin this town about four hundred kilometers northeast of bamako was launched from across the border remarks that will be a huge problem for the for the for the kind of france and its allies. to attention to jordan where many are heading to the polls in early parliamentary elections announced by the king in response to two years of arab spring protests this is the first time the prime minister will not be appointed by royal decree but the monarch will only consult the parliament over its choice for the course of critical voices so as the country is far from real change as ever claim that the government is likely to rig the ballot and the vote has been boycotted by the muslim brotherhood a move that broad support we interviewed at the incumbent prime minister abdullah and sort who thinks the brotherhood has chosen the wrong way to achieve its goals here's a quick preview of what's coming up at eight hundred forty g.m.t. . the brotherhood is a power that has been part of the national political process for a long time since the one nine hundred forty

not been the day they did the extremist islamic jihad the forces and groups who would have been in bamako by now i wouldn't probably be talking to you the way i'm doing now so why it took so long i guess we can find the nation in the diplomatic were but i guess. my sources and from intelligence had been that the french or i mean the third is. the african nations to take the leadership on this very complex issue but then obviously. in the last minute decided to jump in the water and the responsibility and take you need a ship to kind of give the ok so that they could intervene all right the spent so far and now that the french have intervened can you describe the way that people over there in mali have reacted to this french intervention and how do people over there on the ground view the french and their decision to invade the country. i'm sure your viewers are going to certainly know that a friend will be caught and izing nation i mean they call tonight smiley and then we get an independent from them for twenty seconds. but we have or we have. had some very good relationships some ups an

borders and we know that the attack on javelin this town about four hundred kilometers northeast of bamako was launched from across the border in march that will be a huge problem for the for the for the kind of france and its allies. and later today and he's peaceful about asks his guests or whether intervention in mali is part of a bigger campaign against islam and what lessons could be learned from previous attempts to fight terror or that home or in crosstalk you're now seeing. the western military intervention in mali still another example of the west's overall war against islam has it ever been one instance where an outside intervention in the name of fighting terrorism has ever produced peace stability and democracy and with the lessons of blowback ever be learnt. some of the world's major decision makers are having their annual draw in this way ski resort of davos russia's prime minister dmitry medvedev is opening this year's world economic forum and there's a head over g. twenty summit hosted by russia next month and for more what's expected in davos let's now cross like u.k. to p

borders and we know that the attack on javelin this town about four hundred kilometers northeast of bamako was launched from across the border remarks that will be a huge problem for the for the for the kind of france and its allies. and later this hour. his guess that whether intervention in mali is part of a bigger campaign against islam and what lessons could be learned from previous attempts to fight terror all that and more in cross talk on r.t. . gives the west military intervention in mali still another example of the west's overall war against islam has ever been one instance where an outside intervention in the name of fighting terrorism has ever produced peace stability and democracy and with the lessons of blowback ever be learnt. there was a lot of talk about democracy and individual freedoms and president obama's inaugural speech this week but it's the privacy of millions of americans that maybe most threat a civil liberties group in the u.s. has demanded to know exactly what to me the f.b.i. uses to track its own citizens but it can now explains they reply raised more questio

intervention which most probably though will achieve its objective of supporting the very shaky regime in bamako and is objective is not to go further than that to actually wipe out the threat of extremism not just threatening the south but also in the north if that's the case that that is a big challenge isn't it it is a big challenge and then everything depends on what african forces will do it also to burn the internal mannion situation. for example who are fighting the central government technologists aided to disassociate themselves from various islamic islamics groups in the north so the situation is very much in flux and right now are there is a kind of even russia and china proved this intervention of the security council today african states are approving it so it's somewhat different even though it is the result of a misguided intervention or the situation are is different because there's more international support and yet and yet can i just ask you the rebels are saying francis fallen into a trap they perhaps could find themselves in another situation like libya afghanistan or iraq no

borders and we know that the attack on javelin this town about four hundred kilometers northeast of bamako was launched from across the border in march saying that will be a huge problem for the for the for the kind of france and its allies. and later today also he's peaceful ever lost his guess whether intervention in mali is part of a bigger campaign against islam and what lessons could be learned from previous attempts to find tara all that and more in cross talk when r.t. . u.s. military intervention in mali still another example of the worst overall war against islam ever been one instance where an outside intervention in the name of fighting terrorism has ever produced peace stability and democracy and with the lessons of blowback ever be learned. and also the french intervention in mali and tackling radical islam in the region were also among the topics and dressed by russia's foreign minister during his q. and a session today and in a few minutes we'll look in greater detail at what sergei lavrov said about the challenges facing the global community and of course don't forget you c

drag on for a very long time i think what triggered it was the move by the islamic rebels towards bamako which is the capital where most of the french citizens are and most of them in the southern end of the country and i think hollande felt he had to do something to protect and this situation has been going on since april. of last year . and it's very awkward for the french because here they are fighting islamic extremists in in mali in syria and they're supporting them people who go around singing songs praising ben lardy and other people who are being armed and supplied and helped by the french special forces in in syria and the situation if it wasn't so go ask of you how inhabitants of the country would be comic my requested french help in its in this ongoing battle against the militants how do you see this military relationship developing well i mean it's quite interesting isn't it mali has requested help and they get it instantly when the central african republic requested help from the french forces there they were told no no we can't interfere to tell any particular regime we're

have seized a vast areas in the north of the former french colony from moving towards the capital bamako the u.s. is among the states assisting the combat mission however media reports from there suggest that many of those now fighting against the mali government were previously trained by american agents to combat extremism africa expert lawrence freeman told r.t. why he thinks that washington's previous policies have resulted in even more violence . here several ways it is operating i mean first of all you have after the. sas nation murder president khadafi you had basically within hours. in other stream you caused the border with pickup trucks notorious hardware. but you've also had a failed. so called tree. in mali and other african country. these new units moved their units very very quickly and it was a complete failure always. and when the french are pursuing going to fail because you can't we do we'll solve a real crisis by military means first say there has to be. she. simply forward thinking the united states in the west has to focus on the. economic the girl power the food sho

over the borders and we know that the attack on this town about four hundred kilometers northeast of bamako was launched from across the border in march that will be a huge problem for the for the for the kind of france and its allies. well coming up with a short break pete isabel lost his cross to guess whether the west is on a massive campaign against islam as a as a whole and just where that could lead that's all for this brief break i'll be back with a news team with more news for you in about a half an hour from now. you know sometimes you see a story and it seems so you think you understand it and then you glimpse something else you hear or see some other part of it and realize that everything you thought you knew you don't know i'm trying hard welcome to the big picture. i. believe them.