French troops have retaken Gao, Timbuktu and now Kidal, the last major stronghold of Islamist militants in northern Mali.
Developments in Mali
![Malian gendarmes show weapons used by Islamist rebels at a military camp in the center of Timbuktu February 1, 2013.](https://gdb.voanews.com/A38EA7B5-3315-4C69-9AA5-CC5DBCF5038A_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Malian gendarmes show weapons used by Islamist rebels at a military camp in the center of Timbuktu February 1, 2013.
![During an official visit organized by the French military, residents and journalists gather around a French Sagay tank positioned overlooking the bridge crossing the river Niger at the entrance of Gao, Mali, January 31, 2013.](https://gdb.voanews.com/CD0279F6-D49B-483B-91E5-FB034E35738D_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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During an official visit organized by the French military, residents and journalists gather around a French Sagay tank positioned overlooking the bridge crossing the river Niger at the entrance of Gao, Mali, January 31, 2013.
![During an official visit organized by the French military, French troops are positioned overlooking the bridge crossing the river Niger at the entrance of Gao, Mali, January 31, 2013.](https://gdb.voanews.com/7E89BB29-77AE-4FD5-B4B7-13E571F70803_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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During an official visit organized by the French military, French troops are positioned overlooking the bridge crossing the river Niger at the entrance of Gao, Mali, January 31, 2013.
![Three Malian girls walk in the streets of Gao, Mali, January 31, 2013.](https://gdb.voanews.com/06632943-A78D-4643-B52F-93E89C8CC38E_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Three Malian girls walk in the streets of Gao, Mali, January 31, 2013.