Islamists seize town with military base in government controlled west of Mali

He said Islamists had retreated in the east but admitted French forces were facing a "difficult" situation against well-armed rebels in western areas. Mr Le Drian told BFM television: "They took Diabaly after fierce fighting and resistance from the Malian army that was not able to hold them off at that moment."
 
A Malian military source told AFP that rebels had come from the Mauritanian border area after being attacked by French planes.