Malian and French troops have retaken the town of Hombori, as they continue their campaign to regain control of northern Mali from Islamist militants amid proposal of peace talks from Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.

Hombori lies about 160km (100 miles) from the Islamist militants’ stronghold of Gao in the north which serves as a very strategic point for the Islamist fighters.

It was reported earlier on that French warplanes bombed the Islamist fighters’ position including fuel stores and ammunition dumps near Gao before proceeding to capture Hombori.

The UN refugee agency says more than 7,000 civilians have fled to neighbouring countries since 10 January to escape the fighting.

Niger is preparing its troops to join the campaign in recapturing Mali from the Islamist which in a few days time, they will cross to Mali to begin their campaign.

But t reports emerged yesterday that the Islamist had blown up a bridge linking the east of the country with Niger, from where Niger troops can cross to Mali and also African troops plan to open a front.

The bridge is situated in the town of Tassiga, which lies on the quickest route from Niger to Gao but Ibrahim Ag Idbaltanate, a former deputy in Mali’s parliament said the Niger troops can use another route when they are coming since it is not the only available route from Niger to Mali.

“You can make a detour of three to six miles (5-10km) and find another way to continue on the Niger-Gao road,” he told reporters.

Another report has it also that the UK defence ministry is preparing to deploy its  super hi-tech Sentinel R1 spy plane to support French troops in Mali.

The hi-tech plane – which has radar equipment that can scan thousands of square miles in minutes, will be useful equipment in tracking the Islamist fighters from afar.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s president Mohammed Morsi has unveiled a proposal for a peaceful resolution to the Mali conflict which in his opinion is far better than military intervention.

The five-point plan includes political negotiations, economic and development initiatives and co-ordinated relief efforts, according Egypt state television.

There were series of reports yesterday that there were division among the Islamist Fighters and some are proposing peace talks with the fragile Malian government.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News 

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