French-led troops control access to Timbuktu: Military
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Malian soldiers lining up to embark on French army transport bound for Goa on Jan 26, 2013, in Sevare. French-led troops in Mali today controlled access to Timbuktu after securing the airport of the fabled desert city as part of their push against Islamists, a military spokesman said in Paris. -- PHOTO: AFP/ECPAD
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This handout picture relased and taken on Jan 27, 2013, by the French Army Communications Audiovisual office (ECPAD) shows Malian soldiers lining up to embark on French army transport bound for Goa on Jan 26, 2013, in Sevare. French-led troops in Mali today controlled access to Timbuktu after securing the airport of the fabled desert city as part of their push against Islamists, a military spokesman said in Paris. -- PHOTO: AFP/ECPAD
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Malian children look inside a car on Jan 27, 2013, in Konna. French-led troops in Mali today controlled access to Timbuktu after securing the airport of the fabled desert city as part of their push against Islamists, a military spokesman said in Paris. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A street vendor display a French flag over his stall on Jan 22, 2013, in Segou, 240km north of Bamako, as life starts returning to normal following the French-led offensive in Mali. French-led troops in Mali today controlled access to Timbuktu after securing the airport of the fabled desert city as part of their push against Islamists, a military spokesman said in Paris. -- PHOTO: AFP
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The Sankore Mosque is part of the University of Timbuktu. -- PHOTO: Flickr/Africa.com
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Timbuktu is famous for its distinctive mud mosques. -- PHOTO: EMILIO LABRADOR/Africa.com
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Timbuktu was originally an ancient Saharan trading post. -- PHOTO: EMILIO LABRADOR/Africa.com
Malian soldiers lining up to embark on French army transport bound for Goa on Jan 26, 2013, in Sevare. French-led troops in Mali today controlled access to Timbuktu after securing the airport of the fabled desert city as part of their push against Islamists, a military spokesman said in Paris. -- PHOTO: AFP/ECPAD
This handout picture relased and taken on Jan 27, 2013, by the French Army Communications Audiovisual office (ECPAD) shows Malian soldiers lining up to embark on French army transport bound for Goa on Jan 26, 2013, in Sevare. French-led troops in Mali today controlled access to Timbuktu after securing the airport of the fabled desert city as part of their push against Islamists, a military spokesman said in Paris. -- PHOTO: AFP/ECPAD
Malian children look inside a car on Jan 27, 2013, in Konna. French-led troops in Mali today controlled access to Timbuktu after securing the airport of the fabled desert city as part of their push against Islamists, a military spokesman said in Paris. -- PHOTO: AFP
A street vendor display a French flag over his stall on Jan 22, 2013, in Segou, 240km north of Bamako, as life starts returning to normal following the French-led offensive in Mali. French-led troops in Mali today controlled access to Timbuktu after securing the airport of the fabled desert city as part of their push against Islamists, a military spokesman said in Paris. -- PHOTO: AFP
The Sankore Mosque is part of the University of Timbuktu. -- PHOTO: Flickr/Africa.com
Timbuktu is famous for its distinctive mud mosques. -- PHOTO: EMILIO LABRADOR/Africa.com
Timbuktu was originally an ancient Saharan trading post. -- PHOTO: EMILIO LABRADOR/Africa.com
PARIS (AFP) - French-led troops in Mali today controlled access to Timbuktu after securing the airport of the fabled desert city as part of their push against Islamists, a military spokesman said in Paris.
The troops now controlled the territory between Timbuktu and Gao, the two bastions of the Islamist fighters who have been in control of Mali's vast desert north for nearly a year, said Thierry Burkhard.
