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French-led troops 'have control of Timbuktu airport' French-led troops 'have control of Timbuktu airport'
(about 1 hour later)
French-led troops in Mali have taken control of the airport in the key northern city of Timbuktu, French military officials say.French-led troops in Mali have taken control of the airport in the key northern city of Timbuktu, French military officials say.
The troops encountered no resistance as they headed towards the city, a senior officer with the Malian army told AFP news agency.The troops encountered no resistance as they headed towards the city, a senior officer with the Malian army told AFP news agency.
French and Malian troops have been pushing north in their offensive against Islamist rebels.French and Malian troops have been pushing north in their offensive against Islamist rebels.
On Saturday, they seized Gao, the most populous city in northern Mali.On Saturday, they seized Gao, the most populous city in northern Mali.
Thousands of people poured out into the streets to celebrate the arrival of the troops. Thousands of people in Gao poured out into the streets to celebrate the arrival of the troops.
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.
Most militants appear to have fled into desert hideouts, says the BBC's Thomas Fessy in the capital, Bamako.Most militants appear to have fled into desert hideouts, says the BBC's Thomas Fessy in the capital, Bamako.
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.
Last strongholdLast stronghold
"We control the airport at Timbuktu," a senior Malian army officer told the AFP. "We did not encounter any resistance." French troops seem to have been very successful in retaking the major towns that had been occupied by Islamist militants linked to al-Qaeda for months.
A military spokesman in Paris told the AFP that the French and Malian troops now control access to the city as well as the territory between Timbuktu and Gao. Gao was reconquered over the weekend and Timbuktu should be falling within hours. Kidal will be next.
But this rapid advance has mainly been made possible by the fact that most rebel fighters had left their positions in the few days preceding the French-led operations.
Islamist combatants melted away with all their vehicles and weapons into desert hideouts. Hunting them down in this vast region they know better than any army will be much harder.
The French are hoping for a quick deployment of thousands more African forces but without the experience of the terrain and the equipment, these troops will achieve nothing.
This second phase is likely to last months and the French may well be on the frontline longer than they have said in public.
"We control the airport at Timbuktu," a senior Malian army officer told AFP. "We did not encounter any resistance."
A military spokesman in Paris told AFP that the French and Malian troops now control access to the city as well as the territory between Timbuktu and Gao.
Our correspondent says ground forces units and paratroopers have been despatched around Timbuktu and it is believed that these troops are cautiously trying to find a way into the city.
Timbuktu Mayor Halle Ousmane Cisse, currently in Bamako, told the BBC that he had very credible accounts of Islamist militants burning ancient manuscripts that have been kept in the desert city for centuries.
He said that the homes of several civil servants had been burnt down during the last week and a young man killed for celebrating the approach of the French-led forces.
Once Timbuktu is secured, the French-led troops are expected to focus on the last rebel stronghold, Kidal, near the border with Algeria.Once Timbuktu is secured, the French-led troops are expected to focus on the last rebel stronghold, Kidal, near the border with Algeria.
Kidal - home of the head of Ansar Dine, the main militant group in northern Mali - was bombed overnight by French forces, Malian officials say.Kidal - home of the head of Ansar Dine, the main militant group in northern Mali - was bombed overnight by French forces, Malian officials say.
Once Kidal is taken, the first phase of the French operation will be over, our correspondent says.Once Kidal is taken, the first phase of the French operation will be over, our correspondent says.
The second phase will be to track down the militants to their desert hideouts, which could prove a much more difficult task, he adds.The second phase will be to track down the militants to their desert hideouts, which could prove a much more difficult task, he adds.
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