Germany approves troops for Mali mission

THE German government will send up to 330 soldiers to help train the Malian army and support the French deployment in its battle against Islamists.

Up to 180 German soldiers have been earmarked for the European Union Training Mission (EUTM), formally approved by EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.

Forty of the German contingent will train Malian forces. Another 40 will act as medical support staff, according to a government statement.

The other 100 will be available to provide logistical support, dealing with water and energy supplies.

The deployment will make Germany the second-biggest contributor to the EUTM mission behind France, according to European sources.

Germany will make another 150 soldiers available to back up the French army in Mali via air transport for French and African troops and help in the refuelling of planes.

Combat troops will not be sent to Mali.

The EUTM has a 15-month mandate to assist the ramshackle Malian army in its effort to fight Islamist rebels who last year seized control of the country's vast arid north.

The 27 EU nations first approved the idea of a training mission in December but its deployment was accelerated after the surprise intervention of France in its former colony on January 11 to halt the insurgents' march on the capital.

About 16 countries from the EU as well as Norway have agreed to take part in the EUTM, which will have a budget of 12.3 million euros ($A16.07 million).

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