 "Mali operation a success, says France defence minister")
Paris: France’s defence minister is calling the nearly three-week-old military operation in Mali a success. Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian made the comments pn Thursday after French-led forces took control of the three provincial capitals held by the Islamists since last April. [caption id=“attachment_608830” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AP[/caption] But Le Drian told France Inter radio that doesn’t mean that the military risks and combat are finished. He says the French don’t intend to stay but “this isn’t the time to disengage.” France launched its military offensive 11 January after radical Islamists surged into central Mali from their strongholds in the north. The French and Malians have recaptured Gao and Timbuktu, and announced Wednesday that forces had arrived in Kidal. AP
But Le Drian told France Inter radio that doesn’t mean that the military risks and combat are finished. He says the French don’t intend to stay but “this isn’t the time to disengage.”
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