- The Washington Times - Wednesday, February 6, 2013

France’s defense minister said the military has killed “hundreds” of Islamist militants in Mali in the past month.

Jean-Yves Le Drian made the claim to CNN without offering further details.

France troops are starting to withdraw from Mali, where they have been tasked in a fight against Islamist rebels for the past month. French military officials said the drawdown will leave African military officials in control, but that some French operations will continue in northern Mali, CNN reported.

That’s where “some terrorist havens” are located, said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, according to CNN.

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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