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Mali coup supporters rally in capital Mali coup supporters rally in capital
(40 minutes later)
Several thousand people took to the streets of Mali's capital on Wednesday in support of last week's military takeover and a new constitution hastily written by the coup leaders. Several thousand people took to the streets of Mali's capital, Bamako, on Wednesday in support of last week's military takeover and a new constitution hastily written by the coup leaders.
A bloc of west African nations suspended Mali's membership and is sending five presidents to Mali to try to "restore constitutional order", a week after soldiers ousted the democratically elected leader. A bloc of west African nations has suspended Mali's membership and is sending five presidents to the country to try to "restore constitutional order", a week after soldiers ousted the democratically elected leader, Amadou Toumani Touré.
Ecowas, the economic community of west African states, is putting a peacekeeping force on standby but the junta leaders are working hard to give the semblance of normalcy, and thousands in Bamako hope the junta will stay. Touré told French broadcaster RFI on Wednesday he was free and unharmed somewhere inside the country.
"It's the first time I'm really proud of Mali and of Africa," said Niamoye Toure, a young doctor. "Honestly I'd given up on Mali. It's only now with the military that I've regained some hope." Ecowas, the economic community of west African states, is putting a peacekeeping force on standby but the junta leaders are working hard to give the semblance of normality and thousands in Bamako hope the junta will stay. Desire Ouedraogo, president of the Ecowas commission, said there was no immediate plan to deploy the peacekeepers.
Toure said the marchers wanted Ecowas to recognise the new leadership. "Captain Sanogo isn't here to hold on to power but just to bring some order to the country," she said, referring to the coup leader, Amadou Sanogo. "It's the first time I'm really proud of Mali and of Africa," said Niamoye Touré, a young doctor. "Honestly, I'd given up on Mali. It's only now with the military that I've regained some hope."
Touré said the marchers wanted Ecowas to recognise the new leadership, headed by Captain Amadou Sanogo. She said: "Captain Sanogo isn't here to hold on to power but just to bring some order to the country."
The new constitution was read on state TV on Tuesday night. It includes many of the guarantees of the former law, including free speech, liberty of movement and freedom of thought. New measures include the creation of a military-led council headed by Sanogo. It says the new head of state is simultaneously the head of the army, the head of the government and the head of the judiciary.The new constitution was read on state TV on Tuesday night. It includes many of the guarantees of the former law, including free speech, liberty of movement and freedom of thought. New measures include the creation of a military-led council headed by Sanogo. It says the new head of state is simultaneously the head of the army, the head of the government and the head of the judiciary.
The middle and final sections set out the role of the military committee now controlling the country, which calls itself the National Committee for the Reestablishment of Democracy and the Restoration of the State. The middle and final sectionsIt also set out the role of the military committee now controlling the country, which calls itself the National Committee for the Reestablishment of Democracy and the Restoration of the State. The constitution says that the committee will be made up of it will comprise 26 soldiers or police and 15 civilians, who will all receive immunity and cannot be tried at a later time.
The constitution says the committee will be made up of 26 soldiers or police and 15 civilians. Those asked to serve on the committee will receive immunity and cannot be tried at a later time. Alassane Ouattara, the Ivory Coast president, who holds the rotating chair of Ecowas, said: "We cannot allow this country endowed with such precious democratic instruments, dating back at least two decades, to leave history by regressing. It's why Mali needs to immediately return its democratic institutions to normal. This position is non negotiable."
Alassane Ouattara, the Ivory Coast president, who holds the rotating chair of Ecowas, said Mali's democracy could not be abandoned. The US, European Union and France have cut off all but essential aid to Mali, a loss of tens of millions of dollars.
"We cannot allow this country endowed with such precious democratic instruments, dating back at least two decades, to leave history by regressing. It's why Mali needs to immediately return its democratic institutions to normal," Ouattara said. "This position is nonnegotiable."
The delegation of five African presidents will head to Mali this week. Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, president of the Ecowas commission, said there was no immediate plan to deploy the peacekeepers.
The United States, the European Union and France have cut off all but essential aid to Mali, a loss of tens of millions of dollars.