TOPSHOTS A Malian man, Mohamed, poses at his home with a machete to protect himself in case of attacks by Malian Islamist rebel groups, in Mopti, on January 24, 2013. Home to about 120,000 people and what used to be a vibrant tourist industry, with the bars and hotels that accompany it, Mopti is a mere 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Konna -- which fell to Al-Qaeda-linked fighters on January 10. But the capture of Konna sparked a military intervention by former colonial ruler France which halted the rebel advance, bringing relief to locals on knife-edge. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR