French, Mali troops take back Diabaly
Source: Agencies |
January 22, 2013, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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FRENCH and Malian troops took control yesterday of the town of Diabaly, patrolling the streets in armored personnel carriers and inspecting the charred remains of a pickup truck with a mounted machine gun left behind by the fleeing militants.
The armed Islamist fighters from northern Mali seized Diabaly a week ago, making it the southernmost town they held. But they left after days of being pounded by French airstrikes, a tangible victory for the French intervention forces.
The military operation is aimed at stopping the Islamists from encroaching toward the capital in Mali's south from their strongholds in the vast, desert north of Mali where they amputate the hands of thiefs and force women to wear veils.
Diabaly, located about 460km north of the capital, fell into rebel hands on January 14. Residents said those who fled in the aftermath were forced to escape on foot through rice fields.
"We are truly really grateful to the French who came in the nick of time," said Gaoussou Kone, 34, the head of a local youth association. "Without the French, not only would there no longer be a Diabaly, there would soon no longer be a Mali. These people wanted to go all the way to Bamako."
Islamists had seized the town just days after the French began their military operation on Jan. 11. Malian military officials reported late on Saturday that they had retaken the town after Islamists fled, but French officials said on Sunday that the town had not been recaptured.
About 200 French infantrymen supported by six combat choppers made their way to Diabaly.
The armed Islamist fighters from northern Mali seized Diabaly a week ago, making it the southernmost town they held. But they left after days of being pounded by French airstrikes, a tangible victory for the French intervention forces.
The military operation is aimed at stopping the Islamists from encroaching toward the capital in Mali's south from their strongholds in the vast, desert north of Mali where they amputate the hands of thiefs and force women to wear veils.
Diabaly, located about 460km north of the capital, fell into rebel hands on January 14. Residents said those who fled in the aftermath were forced to escape on foot through rice fields.
"We are truly really grateful to the French who came in the nick of time," said Gaoussou Kone, 34, the head of a local youth association. "Without the French, not only would there no longer be a Diabaly, there would soon no longer be a Mali. These people wanted to go all the way to Bamako."
Islamists had seized the town just days after the French began their military operation on Jan. 11. Malian military officials reported late on Saturday that they had retaken the town after Islamists fled, but French officials said on Sunday that the town had not been recaptured.
About 200 French infantrymen supported by six combat choppers made their way to Diabaly.
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