Mali: Explosives Cache Raises Fears

French soldiers recovered a stash of explosives on Wednesday that the authorities believed radical Islamic fighters were using to make bombs, a Malian military spokesman said. The spokesman, Daouda Diarra, said that the French military removed about 1,700 pounds of explosive material from a house in Gao. The find raised fears that jihadists could be preparing to stage attacks on civilians.

Meanwhile, officials in the capital said the army captain behind a coup last year that paved the way for radical Islamic militants to take over the north will be given the task of reforming the military, which has been accused of human rights abuses in recent fighting. Radical Islamic fighters withdrew from Gao on Jan. 26 after imposing their harsh interpretation of Shariah law in the most populous city in northern Mali for nearly 10 months. But they have been behind two suicide bombings in the last week, though neither of those attacks killed other people.

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