FRENCH-BACKED government forces advanced into northern Mali yesterday towards the Islamist rebel stronghold of Gao, recapturing the town of Hombori, as they followed up on French air strikes against the rebels.
Two weeks after France sent troops and aircraft into its former colony to block an offensive by al Qaeda-allied Islamists, Mali's army was on the move as Islamist fighters pulled back from towns.
Malian officials, who said an offensive against Gao could take place in the next few days, said government forces entered Hombori, about 100 miles from Gao, late on Thursday.
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