(Dawn Megli / Neon Tommy)

French and Malian soldiers approached Timbuktu on Monday after Islamist extremists left the city after setting fire to a library containing ancient manuscripts, according to the Associated Press.

The reportedly al-Qaeda-associated fighters reigned over Timbuktu for almost 10 months, enforcing strict religious law and conducting amputations and public executions.

Timbuktu residents expressed relief that the militants finally fled.  French forces said that the weak Malian military must take over securing the city, despite the military's underwhelming response to the Islamist militants' intense attacks.

French soldiers joined the fight 17 days ago.

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