Islamist militants have brought more fighters to the northern Mali town of Gao, one day after ousting a Tuareg rebel group in clashes that killed at least 20 people.

The al-Qaida-linked militant group known as MUJAO (The Unity Movement for Jihad in West Africa) took complete control of Gao from the MNLA on Wednesday.

Witnesses tell VOA that on Thursday the militants brought in 15 trucks carrying Islamist fighters.

The militants are now patrolling the streets of Gao and witnesses say a number of MNLA members have been arrested.

Also Thursday, leaders of the Islamist militant groups MUJAO, Ansar Dine and al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb held talks in Gao. It was not immediately clear what the leaders discussed.

The MNLA fought alongside Ansar Dine earlier this year to seize northern Mali from government groups.

The Tuareg group is seeking to form a separate state, while the Islamist militants are seeking to impose a strict form of Islamic law.

After briefly joining forces, the Tuareg separatists and militants split over their differences.

Malians have been holding demonstrations in the capital, Bamako, calling for the interim government to intervene in the north.

The Malian army is struggling to reorganize after a coup in March of this year.

The Tuareg rebels and Islamist militants seized control of the north in a fast-moving offensive shortly after the coup.