There are reports that an Islamist group known as Ansar Eddine has taken control of the north Mali city of Timbuktu. According to sources, Ansar Eddine has wrested control of the desert town from Tuareg rebels. They have also met up in Timbuktu with leaders of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, including Abou Zéid, Mokhtar Belmokhtar and Yahya Abou Al-Hammam. Andrew Lebovich, a Sahel expert, comments on the rumours.
