Fierce fighting rages in Mali

A Malian soldier runs past smoke from a petrol station on fire during fighting with Islamists in Gao February 21, 2013. French and Malian troops fought Islamists on the streets of Gao and a car bomb exploded in Kidal on Thursday, as fighting showed little sign of abating weeks before France plans to start withdrawing some forces. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MALI - Tags: MILITARY CONFLICT)

A Malian soldier runs past smoke from a petrol station on fire during fighting with Islamists in Gao February 21, 2013. French and Malian troops fought Islamists on the streets of Gao and a car bomb exploded in Kidal on Thursday, as fighting showed little sign of abating weeks before France plans to start withdrawing some forces. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MALI - Tags: MILITARY CONFLICT)