General Lord Dannatt: UK's Mali plan 'right course of action'

The former head of the British Army has backed the government's decision to deploy around 330 military personnel to Mali and West Africa to support French forces.

General Lord Dannatt acknowledged fears expressed by some critics of "mission creep" but said that British troops' role should be limited to training and providing logistical support to the Malian army.

He also warned that the deployment was "the sign of things to come" and that there were signs of similar threats in other African nations.