- Australian tennis star Purcell provisionally suspended for doping
- Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate fears
- Luxury Western goods line Russian stores, three years into sanctions
- Wallace and Gromit return with comic warning about AI dystopia
- Philippine military says will acquire US Typhon missile system
- Afghan bread, the humble centrepiece of every meal
- Honda and Nissan expected to begin merger talks
- 'Draconian' Vietnam internet law heightens free speech fears
- Israeli women mobilise against ultra-Orthodox military exemptions
- Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate worries
- Tens of thousands protest in Serbian capital over fatal train station accident
- Trump vows to 'stop transgender lunacy' as a top priority
- Daniels throws five TDs as Commanders down Eagles, Lions and Vikings win
- 'Who's next?': Misinformation and online threats after US CEO slaying
- Only 12 trucks delivered food, water in North Gaza Governorate since October: Oxfam
- InterContinental Hotels Group PLC Announces Transaction in Own Shares - December 23
- Melrose Group Publicly Files Complaint to the Ontario Securities Commission
- Langers edge Tiger and son Charlie in PNC Championship playoff
- Explosive batsman Jacobs gets New Zealand call-up for Sri Lanka series
- Holders PSG edge through on penalties in French Cup
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin to talk gas deliveries
- Daniels throw five TDs as Commanders down Eagles
- Atalanta fight back to take top spot in Serie A, Roma hit five
- Mancini admits regrets over leaving Italy for Saudi Arabia
- Run machine Ayub shines as Pakistan sweep South Africa
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin
- Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 35
- 'Incredible' Liverpool must stay focused: Slot
- Maresca 'absolutely happy' as title-chasing Chelsea drop points in Everton draw
- Salah happy wherever career ends after inspiring Liverpool rout
- Three and easy as Dortmund move into Bundesliga top six
- Liverpool hit Spurs for six, Man Utd embarrassed by Bournemouth
- Netanyahu vows to act with 'force, determination' against Yemen's Huthis
- Mbappe back from 'bottom' as Real Madrid down Sevilla
- Ali hat-trick helps champions Ahly crush Belouizdad
- France kept on tenterhooks over new government
- Salah stars as rampant Liverpool hit Spurs for six
- Syria's new leader says all weapons to come under 'state control'
- 'Sonic 3' zips to top of N.America box office
- Rome's Trevi Fountain reopens to limited crowds
- Mbappe strikes as Real Madrid down Sevilla
- 'Nervous' Man Utd humiliated by Bournemouth
- Pope again condemns 'cruelty' of Israeli strikes on Gaza
- Lonely this Christmas: Vendee skippers in low-key celebrations on high seas
- Troubled Man Utd humiliated by Bournemouth
- 2 US pilots shot down over Red Sea in 'friendly fire' incident: military
- Man Utd embarrassed by Bournemouth, Chelsea held at Everton
- France awaits fourth government of the year
- Germany pledges security inquest into Christmas market attack
- Death toll in Brazil bus crash rises to 41
Denmark to pull troops out of Mali after junta demands
Denmark announced Thursday it would withdraw a newly deployed contingent of 100 troops from Mali after repeated demands, which Copenhagen denounced as a "political game" by the military junta.
The Danish soldiers arrived in Mali just this month to join European special forces supporting Bamako's anti-jihadist operations.
"The coup generals sent out a public statement reiterating that Denmark is not welcome in Mali," Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said.
"Of course we do not accept that. That is why we have also decided... to bring our forces home," Kofod told a press conference after a meeting in parliament.
"We are there at the invitation of Mali. The coup generals, in a dirty political game, have withdrawn that invitation. Unfortunately, it is a game we see because they do not want a quick way back to democracy," Kofod added.
Trine Bramsen, Denmark's Defence Minister, told reporters the troop repatriation would "take some time".
"We cannot stay when the government of Mali does not want us. We are there because Mali has asked us to come and help them, and when they no longer want our help, we have no basis for being there," Bramsen said.
"We don't want to be a laughing stock either," he added.
- 'As soon as possible' -
The Danish army issued a statement saying the withdrawal would take place "as soon as possible" but would likely take "several weeks" to bring home soldiers and equipment.
The junta, which came to power in a coup in August 2020, first asked Denmark to withdraw the forces on Monday, following a deployment it said had been undertaken without consent.
The next day, Kofod told reporters Danish troops were in Mali "on a clear basis" following the invitation and that his government was seeking clarification.
Mali's junta, which came to power in a 2020 coup, responded late Wednesday by repeating the demand, stating it had read Kofod's "inappropriate" comments with "surprise and consternation".
France condemned Mali's expulsion of Danish troops.
"This junta is illegitimate and it is taking irresponsible actions," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said.
"It bears all the responsibility for the withdrawal of the Danish forces and is isolating itself even more from its international partners."
Denmark has previously sent troops to participate in military interventions in Mali, some with the UN's MINUSMA peacekeeping force and others with the French-led Operation Barkhane.
The new contingent was joining Task Force Takuba -- a 900-troop French-led unit launched in March 2020.
Takuba brings together special forces from European nations to advise Malian troops and assist them in combat.
Mali has been struggling to quell a brutal jihadist conflict that first emerged in 2012, before spreading to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.
Other military contributors are the Netherlands, Estonia, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Italy and Hungary.
- 'Greatness of silence' -
The withdrawal represents a new setback for the European anti-jihadist force, which on Wednesday asked the Malian junta to "respect the solid grounds on which our diplomatic and operational cooperation" is based.
It comes at a time of deteriorating relations between France, which leads the coalition, and Mali.
Relations have soured between the ruling military and France, the former colonial power, since the army seized power.
Tensions rose further from December, when West African states imposed sanctions, including a trade embargo and border closures, on the conflict-torn Sahel nation.
The measures from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) were a response to a junta proposal to stay in power for up to five years before staging elections -- despite an earlier commitment to hold the vote in February.
European countries have also raised concerns over the deployment of mercenaries from Russia's Wagner group on Malian soil.
On Tuesday, Defence Minister Florence Parly accused Mali's junta of multiplying "provocations" when it asked for the Danish withdrawal.
Junta spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga responded to by advising Parly to heed the 19th-century French poet Alfred de Vigny's verses on the "greatness of silence."
S.Gregor--AMWN