Fighters from Al-Qaeda's North Africa branch helped Tuareg rebels in their offensive against the northeastern Malian town of Aguelhoc earlier this week, Mali's defence ministry said Thursday.

"On Tuesday 24 January 2012, at 6:00 am, the town of Aguelhoc came under attack again, from AQIM jihadis, MNLA forces and others," a statement said.

The defence ministry was referring to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and the Azawad National Liberation Movement, a rebel group which is demanding greater Tuareg autonomy and has launched a military offensive in recent days.

Malian troops retook control of the town, it said.

This was the first time an official connection has been made between AQIM and Tuareg rebel group.

A resident at the local teacher's training college, Alhousseini Toure, said Islamists were among the attackers, shouting "God is the Greatest.'"