France says it will support Mali to fight rebels even as troops withdrawn

France's interior minister, Manuel Valls, said his government would continue to support Mali in its fight against terrorism even as it plans to withdraw most of its troops from the African nation.

Valls, visiting Mali in the final stages of a French-led military operation to oust al-Qaeda-linked militants from the northern deserts, said Paris would help the former French colony build up its army to combat the threat posed by rebel violence.

French troops entered Mali in January to halt an advance on the capital, Bamako, by the Islamists and allied Tuareg rebels. A presidential election was held in July but militant attacks have resumed in northern Mali, where extremist groups are based.

France has 3,200 troops in Mali but wants to reduce the figure to 1,000 by the end of January.

A United Nations peacekeeping force meant to replace the French is expected to eventually reach 12,640 troops and police. At the end of July it had just over 6,000, but Nigerian and some Chadian troops have since withdrawn.