You are looking at the HTML representation of the XML format.
HTML is good for debugging, but is unsuitable for application use.
Specify the format parameter to change the output format.
To see the non HTML representation of the XML format, set format=xml.
See the complete documentation, or API help for more information. 
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<api>
  <query-continue>
    <alllinks galcontinue="Basel/Aid|4397" />
  </query-continue>
  <query>
    <pages>
      <page pageid="2824" missing="" />
      <page pageid="2008" ns="0" title="Elbsandsteingebirge" />
      <page pageid="2369" ns="0" title="Fitnesspoint Sportpalast" />
      <page pageid="3179" ns="0" title="Test-Startseite" />
      <page pageid="3530" ns="0" title="Plaisir JURA" />
      <page pageid="3545" ns="0" title="Plaisir SUD" />
      <page pageid="3546" ns="0" title="Plaisir WEST" />
      <page pageid="3547" ns="0" title="Schweiz extrem" />
      <page pageid="3656" ns="12" title="Hilfe:Diagramme" />
      <page pageid="4225" ns="0" title="Mistral 2 - Sportklettern Südfrankreich ost" />
    </pages>
  </query>
</api>