Protesters in Mali's northern Timbuktu region have confronted Islamists who are trying to impose strict Islamic law in the region.

Witnesses in the town of Goundam say the protest erupted Friday after members of the militant group Ansar Dine beat a woman for not wearing a head scarf, seriously injuring her baby.

Witnesses tell VOA the demonstrators surrounded a local mosque to prevent the militants from attending Friday prayers.

They say the militants shot in the air during the demonstrations to try to disperse the crowd. A resident said the situation was calmer but tense by Friday evening.