French and Malian troops recapture Timbuktu

French and Malian troops claim to have restored government control over Timbuktu including the airport, the latest gain in the drive to remove al-Qaeda allied fighters.

A military source says the combined forces reached the gates of the city on Saturday night without meeting resistance from the Islamist insurgents who held the town since last year.

People in the city have warmly welcomed the French and Malian soldiers who have advanced rapidly with air support and armoured vehicles, but the African Union wants faster and more efficient action from its member states.