So far the October to January cocoa harvest in the African country has been strong, according to Laurent Pipitone, senior statistician at the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), "but the second part of the main harvest (January to March) is expected to be relatively poor, " thanks to the lack of rainfall between August and October of 2009.

FORBES: Soft Commodities

Quoting diplomatic and military sources, BBC West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy said French troops would take part in the second phase of the Mali operation, namely driving Islamists out of the main towns they occupied.

BBC: Mali conflict: West African troops to arrive 'in days'