(2 Feb 2013)
++QUALITY AS INCOMING++
1. Tilt down from French flag to man wearing horned hat amid crowd welcoming the visit of French President Francois Hollande
2. Tilt up of drummers
3. Top shot of Hollande amid crowd of welcoming Timbuktu residents, zoom out
4. Shot from ground of Hollande surrounded by cheering residents
5. Top shot of Hollande amid Timbuktu residents and security
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Amadou Dimbo, Timbuktu resident:
"For us it is the beginning of the end of the story, with the arrival of Francois Hollande and the intervention of France to liberate the north of Mali. We are really happy with the decision of Francois Hollande."
7. Men dancing in celebration
8. French flag
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Fatima Talhajtoure, Timbuktu resident:
"I want to say a big thank you, thank you to him for what he has done. Thanks again."
10. French armoured personnel carrier passing
11. Tilt down from exterior of Grand Mosque to Hollande
12. Hollande with French troops
13. SOUNDBITE (French) Francois Hollande, French President:
"(It was) A magnificent welcome, with cries of joy and tears of happiness. But it wasn't addressed to me, to the President of the Republic, it was addressed to the soldiers."
14. Soldiers
15. SOUNDBITE (French) Francois Hollande, French President:
"But the fight is not over, and it would be a mistake to think that, just because we have been able, together with our Malian friends, to make cities like Gao and Timbuktu safe."
16. Wide of Hollande addressing Malian and French troops
STORYLINE:
French President Francois Hollande landed Saturday in the fabled Malian town of Timbuktu, making a triumphant stop six days after French forces parachuted in to liberate the desert city from the rule of al-Qaida-linked militants.
Hollande was welcomed by thousands of cheering citizens as he toured the city.
"(It was) A magnificent welcome, with cries of joy and tears of happiness. But it wasn't addressed to me, to the President of the Republic, it was addressed to the soldiers," Hollande said on Saturday, as he addressed French and Malian soldiers in Timbuktu.
The French launched their military operation to oust the extremists three weeks ago, and have since taken back the three main northern cities ruled by the rebels for about 10 months.
Hollande indicated on Friday that during his visit to the former French colony, he would discuss the reduction of French troop levels on the ground to make way for an African force, led by Mali.
Similarly, on Saturday, when he addressed French and Malian soldiers, Hollande said their mission was not over but reiterated that once the operation was finished, the French would go, leaving Malians and an African support mission (MISMA) in charge of security.
Around 800 French forces took part in the effort to free Timbuktu, including hundreds of paratroopers who parachuted onto nearby dunes.
Radical militants last April had seized the town, once a popular tourist destination and revered centre of Islamic learning.
They began implementing a strict form of Islamic law known as Sharia, amputating the hand of a suspected thief and whipping women and girls who ventured into public without veils scenes reminiscent of the Taliban in Afghanistan.
France now has 3,500 troops taking part in the Mali operation, in which they are working with Malian soldiers and preparing the way for an African military contingent to help stabilise the vast country.
The French-led intervention so far has rapidly forced the retreat of militants out of urban centres in Mali's north, which had been under the extremists' control.
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