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An al Qaeda-linked Islamist group in Mali has claimed responsibility for an attack on French troops in the northern town of Gao on Sunday, the U.S. SITE monitoring group said on Monday, citing a journalist who frequently receives direct news of claims.

The Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen group said that the attack, which killed four civilians and wounded four French troops, was a message to French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of his visit to Mauritania on Monday.

READ MORE: At least 6 soldiers killed in attack on military taskforce headquarters in central Mali

Some 250 Canadian service members are to be stationed in a camp just outside Gao.

About a dozen Canadian troops landed in Mali June 24, marking the official start of a year-long mission to the West African nation.

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— With a file from The Canadian Press