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Renegade Mali soldiers attack Bamako presidential palace | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Troops in Mali have attacked the presidential palace in the capital Bamako hours after staging a mutiny. | |
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. | |
The mutineers say the government is not giving them enough arms to battle a rebellion by ethnic Tuaregs. | |
Both the US and France urged the soldiers and government to resolve their dispute through peaceful means. | |
There has been heavy gunfire in Bamako throughout the day, and armoured vehicles had moved in to protect the presidential palace. | |
A member of the presidential guard described the fighting to AFP news agency. | |
"We are in control of the presidential palace. People are shooting towards us and we are returning fire," he said. | |
The BBC's West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy says it is unclear whether President Amadou Toumani Toure is inside the palace. | |
In the northern town of Gao, young recruits were said to have begun rioting at a military base, according to the Associated Press. | |
Earlier in the day, the mutineers took over the state's radio and TV broadcaster in Bamako and took it off air. | |
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 unrest involving Tuareg-led rebels. |