Despite coup, France and allies push on with new Mali task force
EUROPEAN special forces are set to begin fighting alongside Malian troops against Islamist militants in the coming weeks despite a military coup that overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, French officials have announced. The junta, which on Wednesday replaced senior military officials appointed from the previous administration, is consulting on a transition plan with Mali's political parties and civil society groups. Former colonial power France has more than 5,100 personnel spread across the region with a large portion in Mali operating against rising militancy. Paris has been counting on a new task force of hundreds of European special forces, including from…