Islamist rebels attack Mali army in Timbuktu

The Malian army has been fighting Islamist rebels in the northern city of Timbuktu after a suicide bomber attempted to attack an army checkpoint.

The bomber was killed before he could detonate his bomb on Saturday evening. This was followed by militant attempts to infiltrate the city.

The army, backed by French air power, then moved against the Islamists.

Thomas Fessy in Bamako says jihadists infiltrated Timbuktu overnight.