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A young Malian boy greets elders in Gao, northern Mali, Thursday Feb. 7, 2013. French troops began to withdraw from Timbuktu Thursday after securing the fabled city as they ramped up their mission in another northern Mali city, searching for Islamic extremists who may be mixing among the local population. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

A Malian soldier walks in Gao, northern Mali, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013. French troops began to withdraw from Timbuktu Thursday after securing the fabled city as they ramped up their mission in another northern Mali city, searching for Islamic extremists who may be mixing among the local population. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

A general view of the market in the Malian capital of Bamako February 7, 2013. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Mechanics perform maintenance work on a Mirage 2000D in the aviation hangar at Bamako airport February 7, 2013. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

A Mirage 2000D is seen at Bamako airport February 7, 2013. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Mechanics perform maintenance work on a Mirage 2000D in the aviation hangar at Bamako airport February 7, 2013. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Malian supporters watch on February 6, 2013 on a television in the northern Malian city of Douentza a 2013 African Cup of Nations semi-final football match between Mali and Nigeria in Durban, South Africa. PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images

Women and children walk past a madras in Gao, northern Mali, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013. French troops began to withdraw from Timbuktu Thursday after securing the fabled city as they ramped up their mission in another northern Mali city, searching for Islamic extremists who may be mixing among the local population. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

A local truck drives by a convoy of French army vehicules heading toward Gao on February 7, 2013 on the road from Gossi. Four Malian civilians were killed by a landmine in territory reclaimed from Islamist rebels, police said as France mulled handing over its four-week-old intervention to UN peacekeepers. PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images

A local truck passes by a convoy of French army vehicules heading toward Gao on February 7, 2013 on the road from Gossi. Four Malian civilians were killed by a landmine in territory reclaimed from Islamist rebels, police said as France mulled handing over its four-week-old intervention to UN peacekeepers. PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images

A convoy of French army vehicules head toward Gao on February 7, 2013 on the road from Gossi. Four Malian civilians were killed by a landmine in territory reclaimed from Islamist rebels, police said as France mulled handing over its four-week-old intervention to UN peacekeepers. PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images

A Malian woman waits at a checkpoint on the banks of the Niger river outside Gao, northern Mali, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013. French troops began to withdraw from Timbuktu Thursday after securing the fabled city as they ramped up their mission in another northern Mali city, searching for Islamic extremists who may be mixing among the local population. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Malian soldiers man a checkpoint on the banks of the Niger river outside Gao, northern Mali, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013. French troops began to withdraw from Timbuktu Thursday after securing the fabled city as they ramped up their mission in another northern Mali city, searching for Islamic extremists who may be mixing among the local population. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Benin's President Thomas Boni Yayi talks during an interview on February 7, 2013 in Paris, as part of a State visit to France. Boni Yayi called for France's continued "leadership" in Mali the day before, as France mulled the withdrawal of its troops today after asking the UN to prepare a peacekeeping force to take the baton, nearly a month after launching an offensive in Mali to drive out Islamist extremists. FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images

Women are seen at the market in the Malian capital of Bamako February 7, 2013. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

A French soldier speaks with his Malian counterpart on the banks of the Niger river outside Gao, northern Mali, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013. French troops began to withdraw from Timbuktu Thursday after securing the fabled city as they ramped up their mission in another northern Mali city, searching for Islamic extremists who may be mixing among the local population. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)