Mali’s army says  it has recaptured Konna Town.On Friday it claimed to be in full control of the town,even though earlier reports on the capture of the town had been refuted.

“We have wrested total control of Konna after inflicting heavy losses on the enemy,” an army statement said.A regional security source and local residents confirmed the claim.

The capture of Konna town comes after  more French troops poured into Mali, boosting their number to 1,400. At full strength the force will reach 2,500 soldiers.

Meanwhile the first 100 troops of an African force landed in the capital, Bamako on Thursday evening.

The soldiers from Togo and Nigeria are part of a long-planned West African force that will join the French and Malian armies in fighting the Islamist insurgents who took over northern Mali last year.Nigeria says it will increase its forces to 1,200,the BBC reported

On Thursday, France said it was increasing its troop strength to 1,400 after intervening initially with air strikes to try to halt a rapid advance by the Islamists.