French enter last Islamist stronghold in Mali
- Published: 30 Jan 2013 at 11.44
- Online news: World
French troops took up positions at Kidal, the last Islamist bastion in Mali's north, as Paris called for peace talks between the government and "legitimate representatives" from the north.
French troops patrol the Malian city of Gao on January 30, 2013. French troops on Wednesday entered Kidal, the last Islamist bastion in Mali's north after a whirlwind Paris-led offensive, as France urged peace talks to douse ethnic tensions targeting Arabs and Tuaregs.
French troops arrived at the Kidal airport just days after the capture of Gao and Timbuktu and after lightning push north, which Paris hopes now to wind down with a handover to African forces.
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