French air force jets have spent their fifth day bombing targets in support of a Malian government offensive against rebels in the north.Late on Tuesday Malian and French troops were trying to take back the town of Diabaly - close to the capital Bamako - after rebels seized it earlier.
About 750 French soldiers are already in Bamako, and more are on the way.
Nazanine Moshiri sent this report from the Malian capital.