French President Francois Hollande says it is up to African forces to restore Mali's territorial integrity once towns are retaken from Islamist extremists.

　　"What do we still need to do? Stop the terrorist offensive. That's done. Then retake the towns with the Malian and African forces. We are still in the process of that operation. But northern Mali is still under terrorist control. So it's up to the Africans, as I have said, to permit Mali to restore its territorial integrity."

　　French and Malian troops have recaptured the northern towns of Timbuktu and Gao in the past few days.

　　Kidal is now the last major town in the north still held by rebels.

　　Meanwhile, the African Union has pledged to contribute 50 millions U. S. dollars to the International Mission of Support in Mali.