(21 Jan 2013)
1. Mid of French soldier in town centre observed by locals
2. Wide of troops and local residents
3. Locals inspect burned-out rebel vehicles
4. Close-up of locals looking at burnt vehicle
5. French armoured personnel carrier (APC) and soldiers
6. Close-up of soldier in gun-turret of APC
7. French APC passing
8. Malian troops in vehicle passing
9. Various of ransacked hospital
10. SOUNDBITE: (French) Traomane Ouattara, hospital worker:
"There was at least a hundred of them, maybe many more, but the majority of them were Tuaregs."
11. Various of people in town market
12. SOUNDBITE: (French) Al Hassane, local farmer:
"They (French aircraft) bombed and that pushed them all out. Some of them (the rebels) were killed here in Diabaly. It's all thanks to God and thanks to the planes bombing them."
13. Various of Malian troops at roadblock
14. SOUNDBITE: (French) Lieutenant Mantalla Babi, Malian Army:
"For the moment, it's a bit calmer, the people are going home, but there's not a lot going on. We are here checking that they (the rebels) don't try and come back."
15. Soldiers on road
STORYLINE:
French troops in armoured personnel carriers rolled through the streets of Diabaly on Monday, winning praise from residents of this besieged town after Malian forces retook control of it with French help a week after radical Islamists invaded.
The Islamists also have deserted the town of Douentza, which they had held since September, according to a local official who said French and Malian forces arrived there on Monday as well.
The militants' occupation of Diabaly marked their deepest encroachment into government-held territory and Monday's retaking of the town is a significant victory for the French-led intervention.
Diabaly, located about 320 miles (460 kilometres) northeast of Mail's capital Bamako, fell into rebel hands on 14 January.
Residents said those who fled in the aftermath were forced to escape on foot through rice fields.
On Monday, all that remained of the Islamists were the charred shells of their vehicles destroyed by the French air strikes.
Three of them were clustered in one location, the machine gun cannon of one still pointing skyward.
At the ransacked town hospital, Traomane Ouattara, who is employed there, said that the rebels had been formed from members of all the northern factions fighting the government, but that Tuaregs from the MNLA (National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad) had been the largest grouping.
Life is getting back to normal here, but trading at the town market was slow on Monday.
Residents thanked the French for their help in ousting the militants from their town.
One local farmer said it was "all thanks to God and thanks to the (French) planes bombing them."
Islamists had seized Diabaly just days after the French began their military operation on 11 January.
The offensive is aimed at stopping the radical Islamists from encroaching toward the capital in Mali's south from strongholds in the vast, desert north where they have been amputating the hands of thieves and forcing women to wear veils for the last nine months.
On Monday, about 200 French infantrymen supported by six combat helicopters and reconnaissance planes made their way to Diabaly.
Associated Press reporters saw French troops in camouflage uniforms take up positions in front of a Malian military camp in the town.
Some of the Islamist fighters may have remained behind, portraying themselves as local civilians.
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