Mali National Guard soldiers stand guard on the military side of  Bamako&#x27;s airport Wednesday Jan. 16, 2013,  as a commercial jet takes off during a joined visit to French and Malian troops by Mali&#x27;s President  Dioncounda Traore and French Ambassador to Mali  Christian Rouyer. French troops pressed northward in Mali toward territory occupied by radical Islamists on Wednesday, military officials said, announcing the start of a land assault that will put soldiers in direct combat &quot;within hours.&quot;(AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
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