Mali: Heavy gunfire in northern town of Gao after suicide bombings

A heavy gunfire is being exchanged between Malian troops and suspected Islamist militants on the streets of Gao in northern Mali.

The clashes began near the central police station but have since spread.

It comes a day after a suicide bomber blew himself up near a checkpoint at a northern entrance to the town – the second such attack in two days.

Gao was retaken just over two weeks ago by French and Malian forces, who supposedly drove out the Islamists.

Security had been tightened in the wake of the suicide attacks, with military patrols stepped up and checkpoints put in place.

The Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao) said it had carried out Sunday’s attack on Malian troops as well as both the suicide bombings, AFP news agency reports.

On Saturday, Mujao spokesman Abou Walid Sahraoui said: “We are dedicating ourselves to carrying out more attacks against France and its allies.”

Sunday’s gun battle appears to have started around the main police station in the town centre, but there is now heavy gunfire coming from different areas.

A Malian soldier holding one army position told him that some gunmen were driving around on motorbikes.

People are barricaded inside their houses and the situation remains unclear.

However, worries that Islamist militants had infiltrated Gao seems to have become reality, as they are waging a guerrilla war in the town.

There was no immediate comment from the Malian and French militaries.