Gunfire Erupts in Northern Mali Town

Islamic militants returning to Gao

Malian troops and suspected Islamist militants are exchanging heavy gunfire on the streets of Gao in northern Mali.

A BBC correspondent in the town says 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.