France urges citizens to leave Mali after rebel attacks

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. France urges citizens to leave Mali after rebel attacks 13 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Hafsa Khalil via Getty Images Explosions and gunfire were reported in the capital, Bamako (pictured above) last weekend France has urged its citizens to leave Mali "as soon as possible", after a weekend of co-ordinated attacks by separatist fighters and Islamist militants. In an update on Wednesday, the advice also warned French citizens not to travel to the West African nation, describing the situation as "extremely volatile". Explosions and sustained gunfire were reported across the country, including the capital, Bamako on Saturday.

In Kati, the defence leader Sadio Camara was killed in an apparent suicide bombing by militants, while in the north, separatist forces have taken control of the city of Kidal . Mali's military leader Gen Assimi Goïta said the security situation in the country was under control. Speaking in public for the first time on Tuesday evening, he said the army had dealt a "violent blow" to the attackers, and signalled operations were still ongoing.

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The spokesperson for one of the rebel groups, the ethnic Tuareg separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), on Wednesday vowed "the regime will fall, sooner or later". Speaking to news agency during a visit to Paris, Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane said the rebels intended to take control of several other northern towns - Gao, Timbuktu and Menaka - following their success in Kidal. He also called for Russian forces, who have been helping the military government against the rebel groups, to withdraw from "all of Mali" after they agreed to pull out of Kidal on Monday.

He told the he was in Paris for a "private matter" and denied reports he was holding talks with French defence and security officials. What next for Mali's military leaders after shock of rebel offensive? Russian paramilitary carried out air strikes in Mali as rebels advanced, footage shows The foreign ministry of France, Mali's former colonial power, said: "French nationals are advised to make arrangements to leave Mali temporarily as soon as possible on the commercial flights that are still available.

" Pending their departure, they should stay at home, limit their movements and follow instructions from local authorities, it said, adding that they should also keep their relatives informed. "Travel to Mali is still strongly discouraged, regardless of the reason. " The UK has also advised "against all travel to Mali due to the unpredictable security conditions", and asked its citizens to leave.

The travel guidelines - which have been in place since the weekend - told British citizens in Mali to "leave immediately by commercial flight if you judge it safe to do so". It also warned them not to travel by land to neighbouring countries, deeming it "too dangerous" due to what it called "terrorist attacks along national highways". "If you choose to remain in Mali, you do so at your own risk.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.