epa03535332 French Foreign Affairs Minsiter Laurent Fabius leaves at the Elysee Palace after attending a French Council on Defense following the situation in Mali with French President Francois Hollande (not pictured), in Paris, France, on 14 January 2013. Reports state that France is the first Western country to intervene to help Mali’s government fighting the rebels who took control of the desert north nearly a year ago. France on 13 January 2013 said airstrikes against Islamist rebels in northern Mali were continuing, as Malian government forces backed by French warplanes fought the insurgents for a third day of a joint offensive. EPA/IAN LANGSDON
e poi