The aerial bombardments by the Malian and French forces and the war with the islamists have caused "worrying" levels of pollution in Diabaly, Konna and Douentza regions due to the unexploded bombs, a Malian officer has said.

Colonel Boubacar Diallo, an army engineer in charge of military operations who was addressing the press in Bamako on Thursday, said that a one-week evaluation mission had been sent to Diabaly which is situated about 400 km from Bamako, Konna and Douentza.

"After the bombardments by the French fighter jet in Diabaly, there was a lot of pollution in the zone that was either caused by unexploded bombs or explosives that were abandoned by the islamists," Diallo said.

He explained that in their advancement towards the North, the frontline soldiers carried out some rapid mine-clearing operations so that they could proceed. However, he noted that the military engineers now have more work to do.

He affirmed the residents of the mentioned regions are living in "very difficult conditions" because of the presence of other explosive materials like hand grenades and high-explosive shells. This, he noted, is something that is of concern even to the military engineers.

Colonel Diallo also warned that water in some rivers is contaminated due to toxic products that are dangerous for human health as well as for the animals. Endi