Then he explained what al Qaeda-linked militants in the Sahara
want:  The end of the French intervention in Mali; the
liberation of Omar Abdel-Rahman, "the blind sheikh" incarcerated
in the United States for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center
bombings; and the freeing of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani
scientist who is incarcerated in the United States on terrorism
charges.  France denies any communication with Belmoktar's
group, according to the publication.  France sending more
troops?  In recent weeks, French President Francois Hollande has
said that if his country had not intervened, Mali "probably
would have fallen into the hands of terrorists."  Now 3,150
French soldiers have been assigned to the French mission, dubbed
Operation Serval. At least 2,150 of them are on Malian
territory, the French have said.  The government is considering
sending more troops, it said Monday.  The Islamists are well-
equipped and well-trained, French officials have said. But
advances made by the Malian army toward cities th