TIMBUKTU, Mali (Reuters) - French President Francois Hollande arrived in Mali on Saturday on a one-day visit to support French troops fighting a campaign against Islamist rebels in the Sahel nation.

Hollande, accompanied by his ministers for defence, foreign affairs and development, flew into Sevare in central Mali, French TV channels said.

French President Francois Hollande speaks to journalists in Grenoble about the liberation of Florence Cassez January 23, 2013. REUTERS/Robert Pratta

He was due to go on to Timbuktu, the famed Saharan trading town which was recaptured from the rebels on Sunday.

The French leader was expected to outline the next phase of the mission for the French forces, which in a three-week intervention launched at Mali's request have pushed the Islamist fighters into the desert and mountains of the remote northeast.

Hollande has said that the French operation, which has 3,500 soldiers on the ground in Mali backed by warplanes, helicopters and armoured vehicles, wants to hand over to a larger U.N.-backed African force which is still being deployed.

Sustained French airstrikes have forced fighters from the Islamist militant alliance that was occupying northern Mali to retreat into the remote Adrar des Ifoghas mountains near the Algerian border. The rebels are also believed to be holding there seven French hostages previously seized in the Sahel.

In their three-week offensive, the French forces recaptured last weekend, with little resistance from the rebels, the two main towns in northern Mali, Gao and the fabled ancient city of Timbuktu.

(Reporting by David Lewis; Editing by Pascal Fletcher)

• Instacom bags RM205m telco job in Sarawak
• BToto hopes to list business trust in Singapore end-August
• KLCI up nearly 8pt midday, banks, O&G lead gainers (Update)
• Despite curbs, China's vast hot money triangle flourishes
• RHB Research maintains Neutral on auto sector
• Malindo Air to take off from Subang on June 3
• Affin Research lowers Petra Energy to Reduce
• Pintaras surges to all-time high on higher earnings
• MIDF Research: Return of local retail investors
• SapuraKencana drives KLCI higher in early trade
• Sino Hua-An in the black, posts RM3.33m net profit
• Malaysia-Market factors to watch on May 20(Monday)
• Maybank KE Research maintains Buy on Alam Maritim, ups TP to RM1.30
• Winning ticket for record $590.5mil Powerball lottery sold in Florida
• Rod Stewart tops UK album chart for first time in 34 years

• Burial place of Argentina's Videla a mystery
• Britain's Cameron makes personal plea to tax havens
• Beatles guitar auctioned for $408,000 in US

• Golf: Johnson triumphs by one stroke at Mobile Bay LPGA
• Chong Wei urges team-mates to bounce back from shock defeat to Taiwan
• Kien Keat-Boon Heong may not play in Group C tie against Germany
• Koo-Tan’s stunning loss rocks Malaysian camp
• Kjaersfeldt ready to continue strong Danish tradition
• Sindhu shines for India after spectacular performance
• Danial shatters 100m mark as four records fall on opening day
• Pavithraa in sizzling form despite the heat
• Wee Wern relishes playing at unique venue ... a football stadium
• Coach Irving has no doubts Nicol will peak at the right time
• ‘Comeback king’ Timothy lands his second title
• KLHC to the fore again
• New Cheras velodrome may steal limelight from RM80mil Labu project
• Azlan and Zamri do Malaysia proud in ARRC race at Sentul
• Broken clutch lever costs Hafizh dearly in Le Mans

• Please wait.

• MPs can earn up to RM10,000 per month
• Ten important items for you to prepare for the inevitable
• Professionals warn there is too much of office space in the Klang Valley
• Abdul Wahid and Paul Low taking huge pay cuts
• Take action against Kian Ming, voter told
• Should Sime Darby also demerge; big values can be created by spinning off companies
• Crest Builder adopts sell some, keep some strategy
• Stern action awaits rally-goers
• Prosecution given until June 6 to decide on rape-marry case
• DAP unhappy over Selangor exco positions