French, Malian Forces Clash With Militants Outside Gao
French armored vehicles are seen heading towards the Niger border before making a left turn north in Gao, northern Mali, Feb. 6, 2013
France's defense minister says forces working to retake control of northern Mali are encountering some "residual jihadist groups" outside of the region's major cities.
Jean-Yves Le Drian said Wednesday that French and Malian forces clashed with Islamist militants a day earlier near the city of Gao, and that French aircraft continue to carry out airstrikes against militant targets.
Gao is one of the northern cities French and Malian forces recaptured from Islamist militants last month, in an operation that began after militants started moving toward the capital, Bamako.
In another development, France has called for the United Nations to oversee the African-led military force in Mali.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Wednesday that the moment security is "assured" in Mali, he could envision the West African mission being placed under U.N. peacekeeping operations.
The U.N. Security Council has begun private consultations on the proposed conversion. The U.N. force, if approved by the U.N. and the Malian government, would support the stabilization of Mali after France withdraws its troops from its former colony.
About 4,000 French troops are currently involved in the Mali mission. On Wednesday, a spokeswoman for French President Francois Hollande said the president intends to begin a pull-out of his forces next month, if all goes well.
Currently, an African regional force called AFISMA (African-led International Support Mission to Mali) is being deployed to liberated regions of Mali. The force, which is expected to have at least 6,000 troops, will help the Malian army maintain security after French forces departs.
Developments in Mali
1/11Malian soldiers man a bridge at the entrance of Gao, northern Mali where a suicide bomber on a motorcycle killed himself attempting to blow up an army checkpoint, Feb. 8, 2013.
2/11Vehicles navigate a flooded Highway 64 as wind pushes water over the road as Hurricane Arthur passes through Nags Head, North Carolina, July 4, 2014.
3/11Malian soldiers inspect an explosive they found after residents notified authorities of suspicious bags left by radicals when they fled Gao, northern Mali, February 6, 2013.
4/11A Malian man walks between doors of closed shops in Gao, northern Mali, February 5, 2013.
5/11A child stands by his donkey cart, in Gao, northern Mali, February 5, 2013.
6/11Men carry humanitarian food aid toward boats, Mopti, Mali, February 4, 2013.
7/11A Malian woman looks at men carrying humanitarian food aid, Mopti, Mali, February 4, 2013.
8/11Malian soldiers escort prisoners, who are suspected al-Qaida-allied fighters, in front of a military cell in Mopti, Mali, February 4, 2013.
9/11A convoy of Malian troops on the road to Gao, northern Mali, February 4, 2013.
10/11French President Francois Hollande holds hands with Mali's interim President Dioncounda Traoré in Timbuktu, Mali, February 2, 2013.
11/11A man takes a close look at a burned-out truck in Timbuktu, Mali, January 31, 2013.
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Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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