Czech troops begin Mali training mission

The Czech army on Monday began a military training mission in Mali, as part of an EU mission to the West African country. In the first stage, 34 Czech troops will guard an army base in the capital Bamaku before taking part in a training programme for the Malian military. Their mission is expected to last 15 months; most Czech troops participating in the mission are from the 43rd Airborne Battalion in Chrudim which has gone through missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and other places.