Malian Army Evacuates Gao Market over Fears of Attack

Malian soldiers on Monday evacuated the main market in Gao over fears of an attack, after the northern city was shaken by three days of suicide bombings and guerrilla gun battles claimed by Islamists.

"We fear an attack, that is why we are evacuating the Gao market for security reasons," said a high-ranking officer.

Vendors were packing up their merchandise and leaving the Washington Market, which is near the central police station that Islamist gunmen used as a base for a guerrilla attack on the city Sunday.

A French attack helicopter destroyed the police station in an early morning assault Monday.

The surrounding area was closed off by security forces and French troops were de-mining the area.

Sporadic gunfire could be heard in the north of the city.

Medical and military sources said at least two Islamist rebels and three civilians were killed in Sunday's fighting, and 17 people wounded.

"We received 15 patients with gunshot wounds, all civilians," said emergency room doctor Fatoumata Kante.

Two Malian soldiers were lightly wounded, an officer said.

The attack was claimed by the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), one of three Islamist groups that occupied northern Mali for 10 months until France launched a military intervention a month ago to drive them out.