A fresh explosion rocked the largest northern Malian city of Gao early Monday following street battles between Islamists and French and Malian troops. MUJAO Islamists have claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings in the city in recent days.
Sunday's attack by Islamist gunmen on territory reclaimed by French-led forces was the first large-scale urban guerrilla assault of the conflict.
It started early in the afternoon when Malian soldiers clashed with Islamists in the city centre, near an empty police station which the rebels had used as their base until being driven from the city last month.
Residents ran for cover as Kalashnikov bullets and 14.5-millimetre rounds pierced the air.
One witness said that after a fierce gunbattle, French troops had intervened. He reported seeing one body, which he thought was probably a civilian caught in the crossfire.
Rocket-propelled grenade explosions and fire from heavy machine guns and light weapons resounded late into the afternoon before dying down in the evening, when a power cut plunged the city into darkness.
Read more: New explosion rocks Gao in wake of street battles - MALI - FRANCE 24
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