Speaking from Bamako, Mali, on Europe 1 radio, Jean-Yves Le Drian said he'd toured the "sanctuary of al Qaeda in Mali" and saw the radical Islamists' arsenal sitting in caves.
Until recently, world-class pickers in places like Kinshasa, Congo, and Bamako, Mali, not to mention rural townships in South Africa or beach towns in Madagascar, also knew little about one another.
Bamako, Mali (CNN) -- Malian forces loosened the grip that Islamist militants' hold in the country's north with the retaking of the airport in the city of Gao, an official said.
Dozens of ethnic Tuaregs in Bamako, Mali's capital far to the west, have had their homes raided by Malian forces, and at times been subjected to pillage and intimation, the group said.
That's when the rebels launched an advance toward the capital, Bamako, and Mali's president sent out an SOS to Paris and the U.N.
Peterhansel, driving a Mitsubishi, completed the 370km run from Bamako to Kayes, Mali, in three hours, 30 minutes and seven seconds.
In Mali's capital, Bamako, the coup puts the brakes on a blooming reputation for democratic rule.
Dozens of ethnic Tuaregs in Mali's capital, Bamako, have also had their homes raided by troops, the group added.
It may be that this is achieved through diplomacy rather than through force, says the BBC's Thomas Fessy in Mali's capital, Bamako.
It was due to fly to Mali's capital, Bamako, on Monday morning, but has been delayed due to a "minor technical fault", an MoD spokesman said.
France intervened in Mali just over a month ago to stop Islamist militants who had taken control of northern Mali from advancing on the capital, Bamako.
The Islamists' movement southward has raised concerns among leaders in West Africa and elsewhere, some of them calling for swift and decisive military intervention to aid Mali's government, based in Bamako.
And the Islamists' movement southward has raised concerns among leaders in West Africa and elsewhere, some of them calling for swift and decisive military intervention in support of Mali's government, based in Bamako.
French involvement began the day after militants said January 10 that they had seized the city of Konna, east of Diabaly in central Mali, and were poised to advance south toward Bamako.
France's involvement in Mali began the day after militants said January 10 that they had seized the city of Konna, east of Diabaly in central Mali, and were poised to advance south toward Bamako.
French involvement in the conflict began on January 11, the day after militants said they had seized the city of Konna, east of Diabaly in central Mali, and were poised to advance south toward Bamako.
French involvement in the conflict began on January 11, the day after militants said they had seized the city of Konna, east of Diabaly in central Mali, and were poised to advance south toward Bamako, the capital.
The cars headed for Bamako, via Mopti, the last government-controlled town in Mali during the Islamist occupation of the North.
Northern Mali has been overrun by Islamist and Tuareg rebels following a coup in Bamako in March.
If the Islamists took Mopti in central Mali, then in a few days they would have taken the capital Bamako.
Next door in Mali, Gadhafi funded the construction of a popular mosque in the capital Bamako, and helped pay for a Malian government complex that's under construction.
Hundreds of French troops have been deployed in Mali, both in the conflict zone near Konna and in the capital, Bamako.
BBC: Hollande steps up France security over Mali and Somalia
Moussa Traore, president of Mali for 23 years until his overthrow in 1992, appeared in court in Bamako with his wife, charged with theft and corruption .
France intervened in January in its former colony, fearing that al-Qaeda-linked militants who had controlled Mali's north since April 2012 were about to advance on the capital Bamako.
On the road between Segou and Bamako on Tuesday, a CNN crew saw a large column of French mechanized infantry barreling toward northern Mali.
The French intervened in January, fearing that al-Qaeda-linked militants who had controlled Mali's vast north since April 2012 were about to advance on the capital, Bamako.
The French intervened in Mali in January, fearing that al-Qaeda-linked militants who had controlled Mali's vast north since April 2012 were about to advance on the capital, Bamako.
"I've signed with Mali, and I'm starting work this evening, " Keshi told BBC Sport from Bamako.
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