A delegation of army chiefs
from the Economic Community of West African States bloc has arrived in Bamako
ahead of a team of six heads of state as Mali's neighbours attempt to restore
constitutional order after last week’s coup.
Led by Blaise Compaore,
president of Burkina Faso, the ECOWAS leaders’ team is expected to arrive on
Thursday even as several thousand people took to the streets of the capital in
support of the coup and to protest against the possible use of force by Mali's
neighbours.
The visit comes as toppled president
Amadou Toumani Toure, whose whereabouts have been unknown since he was
overthrown on March 22, told the AFP news agency that he was safe in Bamako and
was not being held by the coup leaders.
"I am indeed in Bamako,
and thank God my family and I are doing well," Toure said in a brief
telephone conversation.
MALI CRISIS
Asked about his location,
Toure responded: "Does it matter? What is important to know is that I am
not being held prisoner.
"I am obviously
following what is happening, I wish with all my heart that peace and democracy
triumph in Mali. I have nothing else to say for the moment," he said.
The fate of Toure, 63, had
raised concern in the past six days, since renegade soldiers forced him to flee
as they fired on the presidency last weekend in a mutiny which led to the
full-blown coup.
He also said that the
military leaders of ECOWAS had made it quite clear to Captain Sanogo that there
was no way out of the crisis "but for him to step aside and restore the
legitimate authority of the president."
"If he rejects the
offer, they will push further for economic sanctions." our correspondent
said. "It is an incredibly delicate moment for Captain Sanogo with the
mounting international pressure."
Support for coup leaders
The coup, triggered by army anger
at the government's handling of a northern rebellion, has been condemned by the
United Nations, Mali's neighbours and world powers including France and the
United States.
But several thousand Malians
protested on Wednesday against international interference - in the largest show
of backing for the new leadership, insisting the soldiers be left to run the
state while tackling the rebellion.
"They should stay to
resolve the problems in the north, corruption and education. That is more
important than elections," said one protester, Khalifa Sogo, of the
dissatisfaction felt by many Malians with Toure's rule.
"It's the first show of
public support," Ahelbarra reported, adding that some people claimed it
was choreographed by coup leader Captain Amadou Sanogo.
"He has to show the
world that he's popular, that people love him, that people are taking to the
streets to defend his policies."
Earlier, the coup leaders
had unveiled a new constitution and pledged to hold elections.
The charter, which did not
specify when the elections would be held, was read out on behalf of the coup
leaders on state television. The leaders said none of them would stand in the
upcoming elections.
They said civilians would be
offered 15 out of 41 posts in a new transitional authority intended to prepare
the path for elections and Captain Sanogo will appoint an interim prime
minister and government.
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