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Mali conflict: 'First suicide bombing' in Gao Mali conflict: 'First suicide bombing' in Gao
(about 1 hour later)
A suicide bomber has blown himself up in the northern Mali town of Gao - the country's first such case, sources say.A suicide bomber has blown himself up in the northern Mali town of Gao - the country's first such case, sources say.
The attacker approached a group of soldiers on a motorbike before detonating an explosive belt, injuring one of them, a Malian officer told AFP.The attacker approached a group of soldiers on a motorbike before detonating an explosive belt, injuring one of them, a Malian officer told AFP.
Gao is the most populous city in northern Mali, which was captured by Islamist militants last year.Gao is the most populous city in northern Mali, which was captured by Islamist militants last year.
Meanwhile, there are report of exchanges of fire between rival soldiers in the capital, Bamako.Meanwhile, there are report of exchanges of fire between rival soldiers in the capital, Bamako.
Heavily armed soldiers attacked a camp of elite paratroopers, leaving "many injured", a soldier insider the camp told AFP.Heavily armed soldiers attacked a camp of elite paratroopers, leaving "many injured", a soldier insider the camp told AFP.
A BBC reporter in the city said he had heard shooting. A Malian defence official told Reuters news agency the paratroopers had mutinied after being disciplined. A BBC reporter in the city said he had heard shooting. A Malian defence official told Reuters news agency the "Red Beret" paratroopers had mutinied after being disciplined.
France has sent some 4,000 troops to northern Mali to oust the militants. Mines check
They have retaken control of the main towns, while most of the militants are reported to have fled to mountains near the Algerian border. The suicide bomber detonated his explosives after approaching a checkpoint on the outskirts of Gao at about 06:30, witnesses said.
It is the first known suicide in Mali since France sent some 4,000 troops into the north on 11 January to oust the militants.
The BBC's Mamadou Moussa Ba in Gao says there is an increased military presence in the city, with patrols and checkpoints run by troops from France, Niger and Mali.
He says there are fears that mines could have been left in the town, with schools and the town hall in particular being checked carefully.
On Thursday, there were unconfirmed reports that four Malian soldiers had been killed by a landmine on a road near Gao, with one of the militant groups saying it had carried out the attack.On Thursday, there were unconfirmed reports that four Malian soldiers had been killed by a landmine on a road near Gao, with one of the militant groups saying it had carried out the attack.
The militants took advantage of a coup in March 2012 to extend their control across the whole of northern Mali - an area of the Sahara Desert larger than France. The "Red Beret" paratroopers were the elite presidential guard tasked with protecting former President Amadou Toumani Toure, who was ousted in a military coup in March 2012.
It is not clear why they may have mutinied or been disciplined, but they were largely considered to have been sidelined since Mr Toure's fall from power.
Witnesses said their barracks were stormed by soldiers allied to the leadership of the coup. A doctor at the scene told the Associated Press that at least one person had died and five were wounded, but this has not been confirmed.
French troops have retaken control of the main towns, and are now moving into the mountains near the Algerian border where the militants are reported to have fled.
They have been joined by some 1,000 troops from Chad, led by the president's son General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who told Reuters their mission was to "fight terrorism, and eradicate it from the region".
The militants took advantage of last year's coup to extend their control across the whole of northern Mali - an area of the Sahara Desert larger than France.
Several different militant groups joined together to fight Mali's army - some ethnic Tuareg groups were fighting for independence for northern Mali, while others had an Islamist agenda and were allied to al-Qaeda, with reports of foreign jihadis joining them.Several different militant groups joined together to fight Mali's army - some ethnic Tuareg groups were fighting for independence for northern Mali, while others had an Islamist agenda and were allied to al-Qaeda, with reports of foreign jihadis joining them.