The war against Islamic extremists in Mail is won, says French President Francois Hollande

During a speech in Mali, Francois Hollande declared victory in the war against Islamic extremists in the country, while promising to keep French troops on the ground as long as an extremist threat exists. 

French President Francois Hollandedeclared Thursday the war against Islamic extremists had been won inMali, though he vowed to keep French forces in the West African country as long as the threat exists.

Hollande spoke before more than a dozen heads of state at inauguration festivities for Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who overwhelmingly won the election thatFrance urged Mali to hold only months after the radical jihadists had been largely ousted from power in northern Mali.

"We have won this war; we have chased out the terrorists; we have secured the north and finally ... we have, you have organized an uncontested election and the winner is now the president of Mali," Hollande told the crowd gathered at a sports stadium in the Malian capital.

"If there had not been an intervention, today the terrorists would be here inBamako," he said.

Source http://m.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0919/The-war-against-Islamic-extremists-in-Mail-is-won-says-French-President-Francois-Hollande