French Withdrawing Troops From Airport in Northern Mali Ahead of Deployment of UN Peacekeepers

Part of winding down of intervention

GAO, Mali (AP) — France's top military chief says troops have begun withdrawing from part of the airport in the northern Malian city of Gao to make room for a United Nations peacekeeping force expected to deploy July 1.

Admiral Edouard Guillaud said during a visit to Gao that African and French troops already deployed in the city would ensure a smooth transition to the peacekeeping force, whose July 1 deployment was approved by the Security Council Tuesday.