UK to consider boosting French Mali operation support

The UK government is to discuss offering more help to French forces fighting Islamist rebels in Mali.

Two military aircraft have already been lent and David Cameron has said there could be further assistance with transport and surveillance.
But the Ministry of Defence says there are no plans for a ground combat role.
Following British deaths in an attack on a gas plant in Algeria by Islamist militants, Mr Cameron said north Africa was becoming a "magnet for jihadists".

Foreign Secretary William Hague will answer questions from MPs from 11:30 GMT, and is also expected to give a written ministerial statement on the situation in Mali.

Concerns about the growing influence of al-Qaeda in north Africa have grown following the deployment of French troops to tackle militant groups linked to the network in Mali and the Algerian hostage crisis.

Militants behind the Algeria attack, in which at least 48 foreign hostages died, have called on France to end their intervention in Mali.