US military admits Mali mistakes

The US military commander in Africa says the Pentagon made mistakes in its training of Malian troops now trying to oust Islamis rebels from the north.

Gen Carter Ham of United States Africa Command (Africom) said its forces had failed to train Malian troops on "values, ethics and a military ethos".

Militant groups took advantage of an army coup last year to extend their control over a vast area of the Sahara.