French military pass the the town of Konobougou on their way to Segou, Mali January 17 2013. European Union states will send more than 200 military personnel to train Mali government forces in the fight against Islamist rebels. Western stakes in the crisis were underlined when Islamist gunmen took dozens of foreign and local workers hostage at an Algerian desert gas facility on Wednesday, demanding that France pull its troops out of Mali. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MALI - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS MILITARY CONFLICT) Published: Led. 17, 2013, 5:39 odp. | Foto: Reuters