Malian soldiers backed by French fighter jets battled militants rebels in Timbuktu on Sunday night after militants used a car bomb as cover to infiltrate the northern desert town.

The French-led offensive in Mali has pushed militants out of their northern strongholds and remote mountain bases but the militants have hit back with several suicide attacks and guerilla-style tactics.

At least one Malian soldier was killed and four injured while 21 militants died in Sunday’s fighting in the ancient Saharan trading hub 1,000 km (600 miles) north of the capital Bamako, according to a Mali government communiqué issued on Sunday evening to reporters.

“It started after a suicide car bombing around 2200, that served to distract the military and allow a group of jihadists to infiltrate the city by night,” said Mali army Captain Modibo Naman Traore.

Some residents said they saw a French plane firing on the rebel positions and fighting had died down after nightfall.

“The situation settled down after around 1900 but everyone is still staying indoors, we are afraid to come out’’, one Bilal Toure told reporters.

The attack reflected the challenge of securing Mali as France prepares to reduce its troop presence and hand over to the ill-equipped Malian army and a more than 7,000-strong regional African force.

Mali’s defense ministry said on Saturday that two Nigerian soldiers in the regional African force were killed when their convoy struck a mine outside Ansongo, near the Niger border.

President Francois Hollande said on Thursday that France will reduce its troop numbers in Mali to 2,000 by July and to 1,000 by the end of the year, down from 4,000 at present.

The West African former colony is to hold presidential and legislative elections in July – vital steps to stabilizing the gold- and cotton-producer after a military coup a year ago paved the way for the northern rebel takeover.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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