French air strikes in Mali have driven back Islamist rebels from a key city and destroyed a militant command centre, the French defence minister said today.

The UN Security Council threatened sanctions against Islamist fighters in northern Mali and condemned the destruction of heritage sites in the ancient city of Timbuktu in a resolution passed today.

The body representing nations in western Africa has suspended Mali and has put a peacekeeping force on standby in the most direct threat yet to the junta that seized control in a military coup last week.