France to start pulling troops from Mali in March

CNN ^ | February 5, 2013 -- Updated 2302 GMT (0702 HKT) | CNN Staff

[Pan_Yan]

(CNN) -- France expects to begin pulling its troops out of Mali in March, the French foreign minister told the Metro newspaper.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said troops will continue operations in northern Mali, where he said "some terrorist havens remain."

...

France has 2,150 soldiers in Mali and 1,000 more troops supporting the operation from elsewhere.

[Pan_Yan]

Are they sure they don't want to stay for 12 years and pump billions of taxpayer dollars into the country, then negotiate with Al Qaeda for a peaceful transition?