DPA

French President Francois Hollande has ordered an increase in domestic security in the aftermath of military operations in Africa.

He was responding to the risk of Islamist attack after French forces intervened against militants in Mali.

The "struggle against terrorism" required all necessary precautions to be taken in France itself, Hollande said.

France's anti-terrorism alert system known as "Vigipirate" is being raised to boost security at public buildings and transport networks.

Earlier, one of the Islamist groups targeted by French military action in Mali, threatened reprisals against France because of the intervention.

A pilot was killed as France launched air strikes on a column of rebels.

Hollande said that French air power, deployed on Friday to stem the rebel onslaught, had "served to halt our adversaries," adding that the intervention "has but only one goal which is the fight against terrorism."

"Our foes have suffered heavy losses," he said on Saturday.

Several West African nations have pledged the deployment of hundreds of soldiers after French forces helped Mali's army push back the rebels who had taken a key town, Konna, seen as one of the last ramparts against a further Islamist advance.

But France's mission was "not over," Hollande said.

He said that mission was to prepare the way for the deployment of an African intervention force approved by UN Security Council resolutions.