MALI: Malian forces hunt suspected Islamists in Gao

Record ID: 375606

  • Title: MALI: Malian forces hunt suspected Islamists in Gao
  • Date: 21st February 2013
  • Summary: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: RESENDING WITH SCRIPT GAO, MALI (FEBRUARY 21, 2013) (REUTERS) MALIAN SOLDIERS IN FRONT OF REGIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING IN GAO, SHOOTING SEEN AND GUNFIRE HEARD MORE OF MALIAN ARMY SHOOTING AT BUILDING VARIOUS OF MILITARY ARMY VEHICLES ARRIVING TO REINFORCE MALIAN SOLDIERS COMING OUT OF ARMY TRUCKS MALIAN COMMANDER SHOUTING AT HIS TROOPS (IN FRENCH): "PA
  • Embargoed: 8th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mali
  • Country: Mali
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAHG3ANN8S9S5W93PKQYB9VALM
  • Story Text: Malian troops opened fire on the mayor's office in the northern town of Gao with mounted machineguns on Thursday (February 21) to try and dislodge suspected Islamist gunmen holed up inside.
    Gunfire and explosions rang out in the early hours across the town, where French and Malian troops have been working to secure the area against bombings and guerrilla attacks by Islamist rebels, witnesses said.
    Six Malian military pickups were deployed in the square nearby on Thursday and had opened fire with the heavy machineguns.
    "We're dealing with an infiltration from last night, just before the power was cut some elements infiltrated in town and they are trying to take this (building) as well as other assets in the neighbourhood," said a Malian army commander.
    "For the moment they are at the mayor's office, and we are trying to surround them and cordon off the area, and try to better understand what's going on exactly," said a Malian army commander who was leading the combat at the scene."
    Gao is the biggest town in northern Mali, which was retaken from al Qaeda-linked Islamists last month in a lightning French offensive on behalf of the Malian government.
    Thursday's clashes came nearly two weeks after French and Malian forces fought hours of street battles with Islamists who had infiltrated the town.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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