Captioning sponsored by cbs this is the cbs evening news with scott pelley reporting tonight from Jackson Square in new orleans. Pelley good evening, we have a lot to get to on this super bowl eve, and we will tell you all about that in a moment. T first we are going to turn to a place that is legendary for being very far away. There was a remarkable spectacle in the town of timbuktu today, the center of culture in the african nature of mali, islamic extremists had taken over there, but this week, French Forces with american help retook it and today the french president capped the triumph with a quick visit to the city, whose people had suffered under the severe islamic code known as sharia law. Elizabeth palmer reached ti timbuktu behind the french advance. It was a victory lap for french president francois hollande. The troops he sent into mali three weeks ago chased islamic extremist out of timbuktu to the relief and joy of the inhabitants. The extremists not only terrorized the peo
Me two of them now in ruins. Last spring the extremists decided they werent islamic enough and sent in a wrecking crew. We were heart heartbroken sidi told us but when we protested they fired their guns in the air to drive us away. At timbuktus library the extremist turned to arson just before they fled in january. Torching some of the 300,000 ancient arabic documents. But today the librarians have good news for frances president , the timely arrival of his army meant less than one percent of the collection has been destroyed. Now feeling safe again the people of timbuktu want the french army to stay. Mali an troops alone they say cant keep the extremists at bay. But for the french government, mindful of americas recent losses in afghanistan and iraq leaving these soldiers here for much longer is simply not an option. Elizabeth has left timbuktu now and is in the town of bamako. The United States was also instrumental in the french victory. Reporter it certainly was, the United States
George Stroumboulopoulos, Lino Saputo among 78 named to Order of Canada vancouversun.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from vancouversun.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.