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Mali conflict: French and Malian troops move on Timbuktu | Mali conflict: French and Malian troops move on Timbuktu |
(about 3 hours later) | |
French-led forces in Mali are advancing on the key northern city of Timbuktu, as they press on with their offensive against Islamist rebels. | French-led forces in Mali are advancing on the key northern city of Timbuktu, as they press on with their offensive against Islamist rebels. |
On Saturday Malian and French forces seized Gao, another key northern city. | On Saturday Malian and French forces seized Gao, another key northern city. |
The advance comes as African Union leaders are meeting to discuss sending more troops to Mali. | The advance comes as African Union leaders are meeting to discuss sending more troops to Mali. |
Islamists seized the north of the country last year, but have been losing ground since French forces launched an operation earlier this month. | Islamists seized the north of the country last year, but have been losing ground since French forces launched an operation earlier this month. |
Late on Saturday French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Malian and French troops would arrive "near Timbuktu soon". | Late on Saturday French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Malian and French troops would arrive "near Timbuktu soon". |
Overnight they secured Gao - northern Mali's most populous city- after special forces captured the airport and a strategic bridge to the south. | Overnight they secured Gao - northern Mali's most populous city- after special forces captured the airport and a strategic bridge to the south. |
Most militants appear to have fled into desert hide-outs and the hunt for them may prove more difficult once all major towns are secure, says the BBC's Thomas Fessy in the capital, Bamako. | Most militants appear to have fled into desert hide-outs and the hunt for them may prove more difficult once all major towns are secure, says the BBC's Thomas Fessy in the capital, Bamako. |
Troops from Niger and Chad are to assist Malian forces in further securing the town. | Troops from Niger and Chad are to assist Malian forces in further securing the town. |
Also overnight, French forces bombed Islamist position in Kidal, Malian officials say. | |
An army source told AFP news agency that the home of the head of Ansar Dine, the main militant group in northern Mali, had been destroyed in a raid. | |
US refuelling | US refuelling |
African Union leaders are holding a summit in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, as members move to deploy troops to help the French-led operation there. | African Union leaders are holding a summit in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, as members move to deploy troops to help the French-led operation there. |
Outgoing AU chairman Boni Yayi on Sunday hailed France for its military intervention, saying it was something "we should have done a long time ago to defend a member country". | |
In a statement on Saturday, the AU said it wanted to make "an African Standby Force" operational in Mali soon. | |
African states have pledged nearly 5,700 troops to support French and Malian forces in their campaign. Only a small part of the African force has so far deployed. | |
Meanwhile, the US said it would provide mid-air refuelling for French warplanes. The Pentagon said it had also discussed plans for the US to transport troops to Mali from countries including Chad and Togo. | |
Some 3,700 French troops are engaged in Operation Serval, 2,500 of them on Malian soil. | Some 3,700 French troops are engaged in Operation Serval, 2,500 of them on Malian soil. |
France intervened in its former colony after Islamist launched a push to the south earlier this month. Paris said the whole of Africa, and even Europe, was under threat if the Islamist offensive succeeded. | |
As French and Malian troops moved into Gao, Malian officials spoke of scenes of joy, but also some looting. | As French and Malian troops moved into Gao, Malian officials spoke of scenes of joy, but also some looting. |
Malian Foreign Minister Tieman Coulibaly said ahead of the summit in Addis Ababa: "This terrorist group intends to spread its criminal purpose over the whole of Mali, and eventually target other countries." | |
The AU has recommended civilian observers monitor the human rights situation in the areas which have come back under the control of the Malian government. | The AU has recommended civilian observers 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. | Human rights groups have accused the Malian army of committing serious abuses. |
Islamist groups and secular Tuareg rebels took advantage of chaos following a military coup to seize northern Mali in April 2012. But the Islamists soon took control of the region's major towns, sidelining the Tuaregs. |