Heavy gunfire erupts in northern Mali town Heavy gunfire and running street battles between Malian troops and suspected Islamist insurgents have erupted in the town of Gao only hours after a foiled suicide bomb attack. It is reported that French soldiers may have also taken part in the clashes. Much of the fighting has centred on a police station where al Qaeda linked rebels were said to be holed up. Gao was retaken by French and Malian troops just over two weeks ago. It was thought all of the Islamists had been driven out. The rapid speed of the French intervention to oust insurgents from Mali's north appears to have left the rear of their forward lines vulnerable, with Mali's weak army unable to make safe the recaptured zones. The surprise raid by insurgents comes after Saturday's suicide bomber attempt near a checkpoint at a northern entrance to the town. More about: Armed conflicts, François Hollande, French army, Mali