Scars of a street battle
A battle flared in the streets of Gao on Feb 21 after Islamist rebels infiltrated the town in the north of Mali and clashed with French and Malian troops. Calm was restored the same afternoon according to the French Defence Ministry, but the brief fighting left lasting scars.
Abderrahmane Maiga is a shopkeeper whose store was destroyed. He stands in front of its charred remains.