At least 20 people have been killed in a gunbattle in the northern Mali town of Gao.
They died in clashes between the separatist Tuareg-led group MNLA and al-Qaeda-linked Islamists, who are vying for control of the desert zone.
The clashes follow weeks of tension between the two groups.
Residents said the groups were launching rockets at each other between the two markets of the town and the governor's building.
The UN Security Council has said it would be ready to support military intervention by Mali's neighbours, but first needs more details of their plans.
Yesterday, angry residents protested over the death of municipal councillor Idrissa Oumarou, who belonged to the party of Mali's transitional president Dioncounda Traore.
Mr Oumarou was shot dead on Monday and the protesters blamed the rebel groups for his murder.
Armed men fired on the group of demonstrators, leaving at least one dead and a dozen injured.
