Mali to send Francois Hollande 'bigger and better-looking' camel to replace one that was eaten The French president was presented the first camel as a gift after sending in troops to purge Islamist fighters from towns across northern Mali. At the time, he joked that he would take it home and use it to avoid Paris's traffic-clogged boulevards. But logistics - and a claim that the first camel was stolen from a family whose house was shelled by French forces - meant that diplomats advised the animal should be left in the care of a local family. Mr Hollande agreed, but was advised by his defence minister during a recent Cabinet meeting that intelligence sources in Timbuktu reported that the camel had been killed and cooked. French troops this week launched their largest operation in Mali since pushing back al-Qaeda-linked rebels who had seized control of the Saharan country's north. Up to 1,000 troops supported by helicopters and attack aircraft were pushing north from the region's main city of Gao, searching for the remnants of the jihadist forces. Mr Hollande announced that he would begin withdrawing French troops after Operation Gustav, as the current mission is known, was complete. An African force due to take over from the French is moving into position. Mali's army is also being trained, including by British soldiers, to ensure that the militants are unable to regroup and launch a counter-attack.