France begins Mali withdrawal in north
Defence minister says 1,000 French troops will remain in country as UN force prepares to take over peackeeping mission.
Published On 27 Apr 2013
French Defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has arrived in the Malian city of Gao to address troops and officers along with their African counterparts.
His visit on Friday came as a gradual withdrawal of more than 4,000 French troops from northern Mali gets under way, after the country intervened to stop a rebel advance in January.
A UN peacekeeping force is taking over the mission in July, but 1,000 French troops will remain to assist.
Al Jazeera’s Andrew Simmons reports from Gao.
Source: Al Jazeera