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| Mali: French-led soldiers in control of Gao airport | Mali: French-led soldiers in control of Gao airport |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| French-led troops in Mali have taken control of the airport in the northern town and Islamist stronghold of Gao, the French defence ministry has said. | French-led troops in Mali have taken control of the airport in the northern town and Islamist stronghold of Gao, the French defence ministry has said. |
| Both Gao's airport and the strategic Wabary bridge have been secured, though fighting continues in the town. | Both Gao's airport and the strategic Wabary bridge have been secured, though fighting continues in the town. |
| Gao, along with Kidal and Timbuktu, were seized by an alliance of Tuareg rebels and Islamists last April. | Gao, along with Kidal and Timbuktu, were seized by an alliance of Tuareg rebels and Islamists last April. |
| France has already deployed 2,500 soldiers on the ground in Mali as well as launching air strikes. | France has already deployed 2,500 soldiers on the ground in Mali as well as launching air strikes. |
| Islamists seized a vast area of northern Mali last year and have imposed strict Sharia, or Islamic law, on its inhabitants. France intervened militarily on 11 January to stop them advancing further south. | |
| The UN refugee agency says more than 7,000 civilians have fled to neighbouring countries since 10 January to escape the fighting. | |
| Air-strikes | |
| In a statement, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said: "French forces have gained control of the airport and bridge in Gao, in the north-east of Mali." | In a statement, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said: "French forces have gained control of the airport and bridge in Gao, in the north-east of Mali." |
| He added that 3,700 French troops were engaged in Operation Serval, 2,500 of them on Malian soil. | He added that 3,700 French troops were engaged in Operation Serval, 2,500 of them on Malian soil. |
| The airport is reportedly situated some 6km (3.7 miles) to the east of the town and the bridge is to the south of the Gao, which is some 1,200km (745 miles) north-east of the capital, Bamako. | The airport is reportedly situated some 6km (3.7 miles) to the east of the town and the bridge is to the south of the Gao, which is some 1,200km (745 miles) north-east of the capital, Bamako. |
| Gao was one of the first rebel-held areas to be targeted by air-strikes after France decided to intervene in its former colony, a decision which took many by surprise. | Gao was one of the first rebel-held areas to be targeted by air-strikes after France decided to intervene in its former colony, a decision which took many by surprise. |
| A UN-backed international force had not been expected in the west African state until the autumn. | A UN-backed international force had not been expected in the west African state until the autumn. |
| Several African countries have pledged military aid to help the Malian government win back control of the north. | |
| On Friday the African Union asked the UN Security Council to authorise immediate logistical help to allow the 6,000-strong force to deploy quickly. | |
| It also recommended civilian observers to monitor the human rights situation in the areas which have come back under the control of the Malian government. Human rights groups have accused the Malian army of committing serious abuses. |