Soldier suspended after fires threaten Marseille

23/07/09 13:17 CET

world news

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One of France’s biggest wildfires in recent years has now been brought under control but the controversy surrounding it goes on. Flames came close to homes near the southern city of Marseille, forcing hundreds of people to flee.

The fire spread across hundreds of hectares of nature reserve land. Amid reports gunfire in a military training zone may have started the blaze, a Foreign Legion soldier has been suspended from his duties. Villages have also been evacuated on the Greek island of Evia. Special aircraft and helicopters fought late into the night. There are fears more fires could break out, with temperatures set to rise above 40 degrees celsius in the next few days.More about: France, Greece

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Mali: Rebel groups agree to creation of Islamic state

Two Rebel groups have agreed to merge and create an independent Islamic state in Northern Mali. After seizing Azawad – an area larger than France – two months ago, the groups had initially disagreed, with the secular Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA)…