Armoured supply convoy of French military vehicles enter Gao скачать в хорошем качестве

Armoured supply convoy of French military vehicles enter Gao

(4 Feb 2013) Near Hombori (on the road to Gao) 1. Wide of Malian soldiers in armoured personnel carriers (APC), mountains in the background 2. Various of Malian soldiers test firing their weapons Near Gossi (on the road to Gao) 3. Various of French convoy heading to Gao with supplies of military equipment and food rations 4. Wide of French de-mining team 5. Mid of soldier checking for explosives on the road Gao 6. Tracking of military supply trucks 7. Mid of locals standing by the roadside 8. Pan from APC to sign reading: (French and Arabic) 'Welcome to the Islamic State of Gao' STORYLINE: A French-led convoy carrying food and military supplies arrived in the northern Malian town of Gao on Monday. The convoy of over 60 vehicles, trucks and armoured cars began their 1350 kilometre (839 mile) journey in the capital, Bamako. Malian troops test fired their weapons shortly after passing Douentza on the route to Gao, ready for possible encounters with Islamist militants who controlled the area just over a week ago. The journey was complicated by the threat of roadside bombs and mines - four soldiers were killed last week by a land mine explosion in the northeast area near Gossi. The French reported that two other land mines have been found in that vicinity, and early Monday they detonated one of the mines. The convoy was part of a massive French logistical challenge in moving the battlefield to Kidal and Tessalit in the Saharan wastes of northern Mali. After taking control of the key cities of northern Mali, forcing the Islamic rebels to retreat into the desert, the French military intervention is turning away from the cities and targeting the fighters' remote outposts to prevent them bases from being used as Saharan launch pads for international attacks. The French intervened in Mali on Jan. 11 to stem the advance of the al-Qaida-linked fighters, who had taken over the country's north, enforced harsh rules on the population and plotted a terrorist attack in neighbouring Algeria. After pushing extremists out of key northern cities, France is now pushing to hand over control of those sites to African forces from a United Nations-authorised force made up of thousands of troops from nearby countries. But it is far from clear that the African forces, much less the weak Malian army, are ready for the withdrawal of thousands of French troops, fighter planes and helicopters which would give the Africans full responsibility against the Islamic extremists, who may strike the cities from their desert hideouts. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...