A military statement did not give details of Sunday's fighting in the town of Léré in the Timbuktu region.

It said recent military operations had significantly reduced what it called the threat of terrorism.

An alliance of Tuareg groups that re-launched a rebellion last month said it had captured two bases from the Malian army in Sunday's fighting.

The violence between the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) and the army is intensifying as thousands of UN peacekeeping troops were ordered to leave the country.

Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists are also carrying out attacks in the Timbuktu region.