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Mali prime minister urges French troops to stay

Agence France-PresseApril 11, 2013 12:25

Mali's prime minister on Thursday urged France to maintain a military presence in its former colony, as troops began an early withdrawal three months after ousting armed Islamists from the country's north. Diango Cissoko made the plea on a tour of Gao, the first visit to the battle-scarred northern city by a head of government since it was overrun by Al Qaeda-linked militants more than a year ago. The premier, who was welcomed by locals and military personnel, paid tribute to the French troops who intervened to liberate northern Mali from the armed militias in January.

Mali prime minister urges French troops to stay

Agence France-PresseApril 11, 2013 08:15

Mali's prime minister urged France Thursday to maintain a military presence in its former colony, as troops began an early withdrawal three months after ousting armed Islamists from the country's north. Diango Cissoko made the plea on a tour of Gao, the first visit to the battle-scarred northern city by a head of government since it was overrun by Al Qaeda-linked militants more than a year ago. The premier, who was welcomed by locals and military personnel, paid tribute to the French troops who intervened to liberate northern Mali from the armed militias in January.

France launches major offensive on Mali Islamists

Agence France-PresseApril 8, 2013 07:46

A French force of 1,000 soldiers has begun a sweep of a river valley thought to be a logistics base for armed Islamists near the Malian city of Gao, an AFP journalist accompanying the mission said. Operation Gustav, one of France's largest actions since its intervention against insurgents in January, will involve dozens of tanks, helicopters, drones and airplanes, said General Bernard Barrera, commander of the French land forces in Mali.

Timbuktu suicide attack reopens front for French in Mali

Thomson ReutersMarch 21, 2013 11:15

By Adama Diarra BAMAKO (Reuters) - A suicide car-bomber killed a Malian soldier and wounded six others in a raid on the airport in Timbuktu overnight, just a day after Paris said a French-led campaign had nearly driven Islamists out of all of northern Mali.

The Malian army's 'iron fist': no African GI Jane

Agence France-PresseMarch 15, 2013 01:30

Dressed in sunglasses and a beige headscarf during a tour of the war-torn northern city of Gao, the Malian army's "iron fist" would not welcome the inevitable comparisons with GI Jane. Lieutenant-Colonel Nema Segara, who has risen to the rank of number two in Mali's militant-infested north -- making her one of Africa's most senior female soldiers -- clearly has no time for the fantasy of war films. "This isn't Hollywood. It's not the movies," she scolds as a group of rights activists complain about the treatment of Islamist detainees.

AFP Features and Focus Advisory

Agence France-PresseMarch 4, 2013 23:30

We will shortly move the following features and focus pieces: + Descendants of Stalin officials bear witness in theatre show + Basketball girls back on 'Sharia Square' in Mali's Gao + Mission to save jaguar exposes big cats' plight in Brazil + Tough law sees acid conviction rate triple in Pakistan Russia-history-Stalin-theatre-USSR, FEATURE MOSCOW

Mali jihadist group MUJAO says sent fighters to Gao

Agence France-PresseFebruary 21, 2013 10:01

One of the main Islamist armed groups in northern Mali said Thursday it had sent fighters back into Gao, a city it controlled for nine months before French and Malian troops recaptured it last month. "Our fighters entered Gao on Wednesday," Abu Walid Sahraoui, a spokesman for the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) told AFP. Local military sources and an AFP correspondent reported heavy clashes pitting Malian soldiers against a group of around 40 jihadists in northern Mali's largest city on Thursday.

URGENT ¥¥¥ Mali jihadist group MUJAO says sent fighters to Gao

Agence France-PresseFebruary 21, 2013 10:01

URGENT ¥¥¥ Mali troops battle Islamists in Gao, courthouse ablaze

Agence France-PresseFebruary 21, 2013 08:30

Malian troops were battling armed Islamists in the northern Mali city of Gao on Thursday in clashes that left the main courthouse in flames, an AFP correspondent and a military source said. Fighting had first erupted overnight in Gao, where a military official and witnesses reported heavy gunfire around two main entrances to the main city in the north of the country. str-stb/txw/jmm

Islamist group MUJAO claims north Mali attacks

Agence France-PresseFebruary 10, 2013 15:45

Islamist rebel group the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) claimed responsibility for an attack by gunmen Sunday on the city of Gao in northern Mali and a suicide bombing the day before. "Today God's faithful successfully attacked the Malian army, which let the enemies of Islam come to Gao. MUJAO also claims the suicide bombing yesterday that made the Malian soldiers flee," said Abou Walid Sahraoui, spokesman for the group, which had already claimed another suicide blast Friday, the country's first.