Mali: Soldiers Fire At Advancing Islamist Fighters

Malian soldiers fired warning shots with heavy artillery at Islamist fighters advancing south toward the Malian army's positions, Reuters reported Jan. 8, citing military and diplomatic sources. The warning shots were fired at night from several locations along the line dividing government-held territory from rebel-held territory in the north, according to a Malian Defense Ministry source. Western powers and other countries in the region plan to confront Islamist rebels in northern Mali, but devising an appropriate strategy has proved time-consuming and has left the jihadists space to maneuver in the near term....