Clashes in north Mali leave one dead as Gao airport closed

BAMAKO: Clashes between armed groups near the northern Malian city of Gao left at least one person dead and a dozen injured, and the local airport was closed after being hit in a jihadist attack, sources said.

Fighting erupted on Thursday between the towns of Tessit and Intillit among unidentified militias, an elected official who asked not to named said. The combatants were believed either to be aligned with the ex-rebel Azawad movement or with an ethnic Touareg group called Imghad or its pro-government ally, the official said.