Renegade Mali soldiers attack Bamako presidential palace
Troops in Mali have attacked the presidential palace in the capital Bamako hours after staging a mutiny.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Renegade-Mali-s...
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.
Earlier in the day, the mutineers took over the state radio and TV broadcaster in Bamako and took it off air.
The mutineers say the government is not giving them enough arms to battle a rebellion by ethnic Tuaregs.
State televion briefly resumed broadcasting late on Wednesday, announcing that it would shortly issue a statement from the military.
An announcement on national radio and television indicated that one of the rebel officers would shortly address the nation amid alarm and calls for calm from abroad.
As sustained gunfire rang out at the palace, one of the mutineers told AFP the situation was "largely to our advantage on the ground at the palace."
"We are hearing more sustained gunfire around the palace," one witness said, noting the use of brightly-burning tracer bullets. Another noted "flames coming from the south of the presidency."
Elite paratroopers known as the "Red Berets" had taken up positions around government buildings late in the afternoon, but were called back to defend the presidency, where an advisor to President Amadou Toumani Toure said earlier that the head of state was holed up.
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.
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.
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.
Earlier in the day, the mutineers took over the state radio and TV broadcaster in Bamako and took it off air.
The mutineers say the government is not giving them enough arms to battle a rebellion by ethnic Tuaregs.
State televion briefly resumed broadcasting late on Wednesday, announcing that it would shortly issue a statement from the military.
An announcement on national radio and television indicated that one of the rebel officers would shortly address the nation amid alarm and calls for calm from abroad.
As sustained gunfire rang out at the palace, one of the mutineers told AFP the situation was "largely to our advantage on the ground at the palace."
"We are hearing more sustained gunfire around the palace," one witness said, noting the use of brightly-burning tracer bullets. Another noted "flames coming from the south of the presidency."
Elite paratroopers known as the "Red Berets" had taken up positions around government buildings late in the afternoon, but were called back to defend the presidency, where an advisor to President Amadou Toumani Toure said earlier that the head of state was holed up.
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.
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.
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.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Renegade-Mali-s...