French Troops Active in Mali

French President Francois Hollande announced that French troops were no longer just a possibility for Mali.

According to Hollande he has already sent troops in, and they had their first engagement on Friday.

This leaves the French parliament in an awkward situation, as they were set to vote on whether troops should be sent or not, on Monday.

Mali had asked for help in fighting Islamist groups who had taken over the northern part of the country.

International military intervention had been approved, by the UN, in December, but no troops were expected til September.

Just recently France denied the Central African Republic's request for troops, to help in fighting rebels.