Leaders of the regional Block in West Africa-the Economic Community of West Africa ECOWAS are due to meet in Ivory Coast for talk on how to send combat troops to battle the Islamist insurgency.

Report from the regional block has it that The French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius will be present at the meeting in the Ivorian capital Abidjan later today.

Islamist fighters on Friday withdrew from two towns they sized in central Mali following French air strikes.

Officials say the Islamists have now left the southern town of Diabaly, which they took on Monday, while Mali’s army has also recaptured Konna, which was seized by rebels triggering the French intervention.

Nigeria’s troops landed in Mali on Thursday to help the French force already on combat duty.

Nigeria will lead the West African force, with Chad, Benin, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Togo also sending soldiers.

It is expected also that there will be troops from other African nations who are not part of ECOWAS to strengthen the military capabilities of capturing Mali from the Islamist fighters and restore law and order in the country.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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