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Mali soldiers mutiny in Bamako after army protest Renegade Mali soldiers attack Bamako presidential palace
(about 4 hours later)
Troops in the centre of Mali's capital have mutinied and the state's radio and TV broadcaster is off air with its headquarters surrounded by soldiers. Troops in Mali have attacked the presidential palace in the capital Bamako hours after staging a mutiny.
Heavy gunfire has been heard in Bamako and armoured vehicles sealed off the presidential palace. The renegade troops traded gunfire with soldiers loyal to the government, and a defence ministry official told the BBC that a coup d'etat was under way.
It follows growing discontent among government troops as the Malian army struggles to contain advancing Tuareg rebels in the north of the country. The mutineers say the government is not giving them enough arms to battle a rebellion by ethnic Tuaregs.
Earlier, soldiers were protesting about the lack of arms in their campaign. Both the US and France urged the soldiers and government to resolve their dispute through peaceful means.
AFP news agency reported troops stormed the Malian Radio-Television Office (ORTM). There has been heavy gunfire in Bamako throughout the day, and armoured vehicles had moved in to protect the presidential palace.
The BBC's Alou Diawara in Bamako says there is a heavy presence of troops in the streets in the area around the building. A member of the presidential guard described the fighting to AFP news agency.
Earlier in the day, soldiers fired in the air as the country's defence minister started a tour of military barracks, just north of the capital. "We are in control of the presidential palace. People are shooting towards us and we are returning fire," he said.
The protest prompted an immediate strengthening of security around the presidential palace, with armoured vehicles sealing off the building. The BBC's West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy says it is unclear whether President Amadou Toumani Toure is inside the palace.
Troops are also reportedly opposed to any potential talks with the rebels. In the northern town of Gao, young recruits were said to have begun rioting at a military base, according to the Associated Press.
BBC West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy says the soldiers want to express their anger at the way in which the government is handling the Tuareg-led rebellion. Earlier in the day, the mutineers took over the state's radio and TV broadcaster in Bamako and took it off air.
He says Tuareg fighters have forced the army out of several northern towns over the past two months while Islamist combatants have also gained ground. The unrest began as the country's defence minister started a tour of military barracks north of the capital.
Soldiers fired in the air during the inspection, prompting an immediate strengthening of security around the presidential palace.
Troops are upset with the government's handling of the Tuareg rebellion, and are also reportedly opposed to any potential talks with the rebels.
The Tuaregs have forced the army out of several northern towns in recent months.
Earlier this week Ecowas, the West African regional organisation, urged its member states to support Mali with military equipment and logistics.Earlier this week Ecowas, the West African regional organisation, urged its member states to support Mali with military equipment and logistics.
A presidential election is due to take place in the country in just under a month.A presidential election is due to take place in the country in just under a month.
The government has so far refused to postpone the poll, despite the current unrest involving Tuareg-led rebels. The government has so far refused to postpone the poll, despite the unrest involving Tuareg-led rebels.