French and Malian troops were restoring their control over the historic town of Timbuktu on Sunday, a Malian army spokesman said, as they advanced further north in their campaign to drive out Islamist rebels.
The militants, who have controlled the UNESCO World Heritage site since early last year, had reportedly begun to pull out earlier.
"The Malian army and the French troops are at the gates of Timbuktu," the spokesman said. "They are in control of the area."
French forces also began air attacks on the rebel stronghold of Kidal, a day after the offensive pushed the rebels out of the strategic town of Gao. Along with Timbuktu, the two towns were the
most important captured by rebels last year.
"We have had control over Gao since yesterday," said the spokesman. "Our troops are in complete control of the area."
The home of Ansar Dine leader Iya Ag Ghali was also targeted in the Kidal strikes, the spokesman said. Ansar Dine was among the rebel groups which took advantage of a coup in the capital Bamako in March to seize control of the north.
Mali has since been led by an interim government.
The joint French-Malian attack upon Timbuktu has been in the planning for more than a week. French forces have been fighting alongside their Malian counterparts for two weeks.