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An Ivorian officer (sitting at R) and other ECOWAS army officers prepare a document during a meeting of chiefs of staff on January 16, 2013 at the Mali peacekeeping traning center in Bamako. French troops will be in direct combat against Islamist fighters in Mali within “hours”, the country’s army chief said Wednesday, as France’s ground forces pushed north towards rebel-held territory in the six-day old offensive. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOGO