French troops in major offensive in northern Mali

TIMBUKTU, Mali, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- French troops battled al-Qaida in northern Mali in a weekend offensive in which at least 19 militants died, military sources told Radio France Internationale.

The offensive against al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb began last week in an area north of Timbuktu on the way to the salt-mining center of Taoudeni, RFI reported Wednesday.

A local security source told RFI the fighting was in "a region where there's a lot to do; where there are a lot of jihadi movements."

Residents of Timbuktu confirm seeing French armored vehicles at the end of last week in advance of the offensive.

"The elements of the terrorist group fought to the death," a Malian military official told RFI. "At least 19 elements were killed; there were no dead or wounded on the French side."

The French army hasn't commented because the operation was still being carried out, RFI said.

The fighting in Mali was reported as France deployed 1,600 troops to intervene in Central African Republic. Both countries are former French colonies.