UK to send more troops to Mali

Ministers yesterday denied Britain was being sucked into the conflict to drive Islamist militants from Mali as the government committed more troops to the region.

Downing Street announced that up to 200 UK military advisers will be deployed to help train a West African intervention force being prepared to take over from French troops once they have stabilised the situation.

The advisers will be in addition to up to 40 personnel Britain is offering to contribute to an EU training mission to build up the fledgling Malian army.