Earlier, the US military commander in Africa said the Pentagon had made mistakes when training Malian troops in recent years.

BBC: Mali crisis: Troops 'take northern town of Hombori'

Belfast International Airport can trace its aviation history back to the First World War, when Aldergrove in Country Antrim was selected as a military training base for the Royal Flying Corps.

BBC: Belfast International Airport sale 'not ruled out'

When MPRI began its training program for the Croatian military, many NATO allies were not supportive of a private military company undertaking such a task since they believed it would lack the aura of legitimacy.

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