MALIAN troops backed by French forces have clashed with Islamist fighters who infiltrated the northern city of Timbuktu, leaving two jihadists dead and four Malian soldiers wounded.
"Jihadists have infiltrated the centre of Timbuktu ... Our men are currently fighting them with the support of a unit of our French partner," a Malian officer told AFP by telephone.
"Two jihadists have been killed and four Malian soldiers have been injured. That's the provisional toll," the officer said, adding the fighting "is not yet over".
The Islamist fighters who had controlled the fabled Saharan city before French and Malian soldiers recaptured it in January have been able to blend into the population to launch attacks, infiltrating it by foot or bicycle.
The officer said the fighting began when the Islamist rebels opened fire on two sides of the centre of the city, targeting a hotel and a military base.
On Saturday, a suicide bomber blew himself up when he tried to force his way through a military barricade at the western entrance to Timbuktu, wounding a soldier manning the checkpoint.
Mali has been the target of a series of attacks claimed by Islamist insurgents since France launched on January 11 a military intervention against al-Qaeda-linked groups that had seized the north of the country.
The French-led operation has forced the extremists from the cities they had seized for 10 months in the chaotic aftermath of Mali's military coup in March 2012.
But French and African forces have faced continuing suicide blasts and guerrilla attacks in reclaimed territory.
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