An explosion was heard outside of Gao on Monday, according to media reports, but the situation inside the northern Malian city was calm after heavy fighting at the weekend between Islamist rebels and the army, dpa reported.
French troops briefly intervened in support of the Malian army in Gao but warned the entire city was not yet fully secured by government forces.
Witnesses and French officials said between 10 and 12 Islamist fighters took part in the battle in the centre of Gao, which lasted for several hours. Radio Mali reported the situation has been calm since late on Sunday.
Suicide bombers targeted soldiers Friday and Saturday in Gao, the first such attacks in Mali since French forces launched an operation against the Islamists in January, after the rebels began to move south on the capital Bamako.
French, Malian and other African forces have since managed to recapture most of the north, which was overrun by the Islamist rebels last year.