French-led forces advance on Timbuktu

Malian soldiers control motorists at a checkpoint near Sevare on January 27, 2013. French-led troops were advancing on Mali's fabled desert city of Timbuktu on Sunday after capturing a string of other towns in their offensive against Islamist militant groups in the north of the country. Meanwhile, African leaders meeting in the Ethiopian capital were discussing scaling up the number of African troops to join the offensive, after the African Union's outgoing chief admitted the body had not done enough to help Mali. (AFP/Getty Images)