French President Hollande to visit Mali

French President Francois Hollande prepared to visit Mali as French-led troops worked on Friday to secure the last Islamist stronghold in the north after a lightning offensive against the extremists. Hollande will visit Mali on Saturday with Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Development Minister Pascal Canin, his office said, three weeks after French troops launched a surprise intervention against Islamists in its former colony. The trip comes as troops are gathered at the gates of Kidal, a sandy northeastern outpost that is the last rebel stronghold in the poor West African country, poised to secure the town after capturing its airport on Wednesday. The French-led campaign has claimed a rapid succession of victories in key Islamist strongholds where citizens greeted troops with euphoria. Source: AFP