Mali president declares state of emergency over rebel advance

Mali's interim president Dioncounda Traore declared a state of emergency on Friday as government forces battled to hold back alleged al Qaeda-linked Islamist fighters threatening to push south from their northern strongholds, an official at the presidency said.

"President Traore has just decreed a state of emergency. The information will be transmitted on national television this evening," the official told Reuters, asking not to be named.