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Mali conflict: Timbuktu hails French President Hollande Mali conflict: Timbuktu hails French President Hollande
(35 minutes later)
France's president is visiting Mali, three weeks after French-led troops launched an offensive to oust Islamist rebels from the country's north. France's president has said it would be wrong to assume the conflict in Mali is over, three weeks after launching an offensive to oust Islamist rebels.
Francois Hollande was welcomed by dignitaries and residents in Timbuktu, six days after the city was recaptured. Francois Hollande was speaking during a visit to the recently recaptured city of Timbuktu, where thousands welcomed him with chants of "Vive la France".
He is expected to thank the French soldiers and stress the need for an African force to replace them swiftly. Mr Hollande said French forces would help Malian forces finish the job of re-establishing control in the north.
Meanwhile, the UN has warned of the risk of reprisal attacks against Tuareg and Arab communities in northern Mali. Meanwhile, the UN said Tuareg and Arabs in the north were at risk of reprisals.
The UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide, Adama Dieng, said there had been serious allegations of human rights violations committed by the Malian army, including summary executions and disappearances. The UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide said there had been serious allegations of human rights violations committed by the Malian army, including summary executions and disappearances.
There had also been reports of incidents of mob lynching and looting of properties belonging to Arab and Tuareg communities, which had been accused of supporting armed Islamist groups, Mr Dieng added. There had also been reports of incidents of mob lynching and looting of properties belonging to Arab and Tuareg communities, which had been accused of supporting armed Islamist groups, Adama Dieng added.
"I call on the Malian army to discharge its responsibility to protect all populations, irrespective of their race or ethnicity," he said.
The allegations came as heavily-armoured columns of French and Malian troops continued their advance in northern Mali.The allegations came as heavily-armoured columns of French and Malian troops continued their advance in northern Mali.
They are attempting to secure the north-eastern city of Kidal, the militants' last stronghold, having captured the airport on Wednesday.They are attempting to secure the north-eastern city of Kidal, the militants' last stronghold, having captured the airport on Wednesday.
'International force' 'Still dangerous'
Mr Hollande flew into the central town of Sevare on Saturday morning, accompanied by his ministers of defence, foreign affairs and development. Mali's interim President, Dioncounda Traore, met them at the airport. Mr Hollande flew into the central town of Sevare on Saturday with his ministers of defence, foreign affairs and development. Mali's interim President, Dioncounda Traore, met them at the airport.
They then flew to Timbuktu's airport before being driven to the 700-year-old mud mosque of Djingareyber and the Ahmed Baba Institute, where fleeing militants set fire to about 2,000 priceless manuscripts.They then flew to Timbuktu's airport before being driven to the 700-year-old mud mosque of Djingareyber and the Ahmed Baba Institute, where fleeing militants set fire to about 2,000 priceless manuscripts.
Thousands of locals gathered in the city's main square to welcome Mr Hollande. Many chanted "Vive la France" and praised the president for ordering the military intervention in France's former colony. Crowds waved French flags and shouted "Vive la France! Vive Francois Hollande!" as the French leader passed them.
"The women of Timbuktu will thank Francois Hollande forever," 53-year-old Fanta Diarra Toure told the AFP news agency. "If I could have one wish, it would be that the French army stays in the Sahara, that they create a base here," Moustapha Ben Essayati, a resident, told the Associated Press news agency.
Many women wore vibrantly coloured clothes and jewellery, which correspondents say was something they could not do during the past year of Islamist rule.
"The women of Timbuktu will thank Francois Hollande forever," 53-year-old Fanta Diarra Toure, one of thousands of people who gathered in the city's main square, told the AFP news agency.
"We must tell him that he has cut down the tree but still has to tear up its roots," she added, referring to the Islamist militants."We must tell him that he has cut down the tree but still has to tear up its roots," she added, referring to the Islamist militants.
Speaking on Friday before he flew to Mali, Mr Hollande said he wanted "to express to our soldiers all our support, encouragement and pride". Addressing French troops at Timbuktu's airport afterwards, President Hollande warned them that that the mission was still dangerous.
"I'm also going to ensure that African forces come and join us as quickly as possible and to tell them we need them for this international force," he added. "The conflict is not over. It would be a mistake to think that because, with our Malian friends, we have managed to restore order in towns like Gao and Timbuktu that we can stop there," he said.
He said he wanted Mali's transitional government to restore democracy soon and begin a political dialogue with opposition groups in the north. "The Malian authorities want to restore the territorial integrity that was - for a time - snatched away from them. We will be at their side."
The BBC's Andrew Harding in Timbuktu says Timbuktu is still half empty, but the sense of relief among those who endured months of brutal occupation is overwhelming. Before he left for Mali, Mr Hollande said he wanted to ensure African troops were deployed to replace the French force as soon as possible, and that he wanted Mali's transitional government to begin a political dialogue with opposition groups in the north.
However, this is not quite a "mission accomplished" moment for Mr Hollande, because the Islamist militants remain a threat, our correspondent adds. About 800 French soldiers, including hundreds of paratroopers, took part in the operation which saw Timbuktu recaptured six days ago. A total of 3,500 French troops are currently in Mali.
US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said on Friday that the French-led forces had recaptured the major population centres "much faster" than he had expected, but warned that they now had to ensure long-term security. Nearly 2,000 army personnel from Chad and Niger, with experience of fighting in the Sahara desert, are already helping consolidate the recent gains. A further 6,000 troops will be deployed as part of the UN-backed African-led International Support Mission to Mali (Afisma).
"They have made tremendous progress, I give them a lot of credit," he told the AFP news agency. The BBC's Andrew Harding in Timbuktu says this was a big moment for President Hollande, but there is a danger that this is as good as it may get for him.
"But the challenge now is to make sure that you can maintain that security and that you are not overstretched and that, ultimately, as you begin to pull back, that the other African nations are prepared to move in and fill the gap of providing security." Now, things get more complicated, our correspondent adds, and if the French get their exit strategy wrong and move too quickly, Mali could easily be plunged back into chaos.
Are you in Mali? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below.Are you in Mali? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below.