adminThe breakthrough drove al Qaeda-linked rebels out of key positions in government-held areas, where their advance toward the capital Bamako spurred former colonial power France to launch an offensive 12 days ago.
In Diabaly, 400km north of Bamako, French troops handed over charge of the town to Malian soldiers after driving out the Islamists on Monday, an AFP journalist said.
“Our mission is not to stay here, we will leave the town to the Malians,” French Colonel Frederic, not giving his last name in line with army policy, told AFP on Monday night.
Residents applauded wildly, yelling “Long Live France!” as the troops rolled into the town as part of the offensive which has won wide international backing.
France swept to Mali’s aid ten months after it lost over half its territory to Islamists who have imposed brutal sharia law in northern towns, amid rising fears that the vast zone could become a new Afghanistan-like haven for al-Qaeda.
Malian army chief General Ibrahima Dahirou Dembele said on Monday’s victory came after “aerial support from our French partners neutralised all the enemy vehicles and enemy fighters who were in the town and around Diabaly”.
Diabaly was seized by Islamists in a surprise attack several days after the French began pounding their positions with air strikes. Along with the town of Konna 100km west of Diabaly — also since re-captured — the Islamists gained control of strategic points at the narrow centre of the bow-tie shaped nation. — AFP.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter