PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL<br/> <br />A state of emergency has been declared in Mali, as forces battle Islamist rebels.<br/> <br />French troops have joined the fight after militants linked to al Qaeda captured the town of Konna.<br/> <br />In a national address on Friday (January 11), interim president Dioncounda Traore called on all Malians to play their part.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: DIONCOUNDA TRAORE, INTERIM PRESIDENT, MALI, SAYING (French):<br/> <br />"The government of Mali has taken the decision to declare a State of Emergency over the entire national territory. Every Malian, woman and man, must consider themselves a soldier of the nation and act like one."<br/> <br />With the help of French airstrikes, Malian troops have reportedly driven back rebel fighters.<br/> <br />Traore is expected to fly to Paris for talks with the French president on Wednesday (January 16).
