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| Mali: French-led soldiers 'in control of Gao' | Mali: French-led soldiers 'in control of Gao' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| French-led troops in Mali have taken control of the northern town of Gao, the French defence ministry has said. | French-led troops in Mali have taken control of the northern town of Gao, the French defence ministry has said. |
| The town was previously a stronghold of Islamist fighters after it was seized by an alliance of Tuareg rebels and Islamists last April. | The town was previously a stronghold of Islamist fighters after it was seized by an alliance of Tuareg rebels and Islamists last April. |
| French-led troops moved into Gao itself after earlier securing the airport and a strategic bridge to the south. | French-led troops moved into Gao itself after earlier securing the airport and a strategic bridge to the south. |
| French officials said troops from neighbouring Niger and Chad would now move into the town to help secure it. | French officials said troops from neighbouring Niger and Chad would now move into the town to help secure it. |
| They also suggested that government control was already being restored, with the mayor of Gao's returning on Saturday after being ousted by the Islamist takeover. | They also suggested that government control was already being restored, with the mayor of Gao's returning on Saturday after being ousted by the Islamist takeover. |
| There was no official death toll from the offensive, but the French army said "dozens" of Islamist fighters were killed in the overnight operations to secure the bridge and airport, without any casualties on the French and Malian side. | |
| French-led troops are also reported to be advancing on the town of Lere to the west. | |
| Air-strikes | |
| The fall of Gao, northern Mali's most populous town, marks a significant advance for French and Malian troops. | The fall of Gao, northern Mali's most populous town, marks a significant advance for French and Malian troops. |
| Islamists seized a vast area of northern Mali last year and have imposed strict Sharia, or Islamic law, on its inhabitants. | 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. | France intervened militarily on 11 January to stop them advancing further south. |
| It has already deployed 2,500 soldiers on the ground in Mali as well as launching air strikes. | It has already deployed 2,500 soldiers on the ground in Mali as well as launching air strikes. |
| The other major northern towns of Kidal and Timbuktu remain in Islamist hands, however. | The other major northern towns of Kidal and Timbuktu remain in Islamist hands, however. |
| The UN refugee agency says more than 7,000 civilians have fled to neighbouring countries since 10 January to escape the fighting. | The UN refugee agency says more than 7,000 civilians have fled to neighbouring countries since 10 January to escape the fighting. |
| In a statement earlier, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed that 3,700 French troops were engaged in Operation Serval, 2,500 of them on Malian soil. | In a statement earlier, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed that 3,700 French troops were engaged in Operation Serval, 2,500 of them on Malian soil. |
| 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. |
| Aid pledged | Aid pledged |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |