Battle on the streets of Gao
A Malian soldier crouches low during heavy fighting between Islamist rebels and French and Malian troops on the streets of Gao, a town in Mali's arid north.
French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said later that day that Gao was back under control after the clashes. Yet fighting with al Qaeda linked rebels in Mali shows little sign of abating just weeks before France plans to start withdrawing some of its forces.
Malian soldiers fire a machine gun during the daytime clashes in Gao, which broke out after Islamists were reported to have infiltrated the Niger River town during a night of explosions and gunfire.
A Malian soldier takes cover after his comrades fired a rocket propelled grenade.
French soldiers take up positions near Independence Plaza, formerly known as Sharia Square. Six Malian military pickups were deployed to the plaza and opened fire on the mayor's office before being joined by French troops.
A Malian soldier carrying machine gun ammunition jumps over a fence during fighting with Islamists.
Malian soldiers seek out cover as the clashes continue.
A Malian soldier runs down an empty gutter during the fighting, which spilled out into Gao's warren of sandy streets.
A fellow soldier lies on his stomach as he fires an AK-47.
A Malian soldier strides forward as he fires a gun at Islamists.
Children run home from school after hearing gunfire and explosions.
A Malian soldier gestures during the fighting.
Another soldier fixes a rocket.
A Malian soldier gestures to his comrades as he holds machine gun ammunition.
Malian soldiers run to take cover during the fighting.
French soldiers crouch behind a wall after they arrived in armoured vehicles to join the battle.
A Malian soldier runs past smoke from a petrol station that caught fire during the fighting. A local government office also went up in flames.
A French soldier aims his sniper rifle during the clashes. Just two weeks earlier, French troops in Gao fought for hours against Islamists who had infiltrated the town via the nearby Niger River.
Malian soldiers walk past French troops crouching near Independence Plaza, which still bares its former name "Sharia Square".
