Posted on 03/25/2012 11:41:38 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Mali's political leaders have joined forces to call on the country's new military junta to step down and hand power back to the people as Tuareg rebels close in on several strategic towns in the country's north.
Leaders of the coup in Mali faced increasing pressure Monday as Malian lawmakers and opposition figures joined forces to call for them to go as Tuareg rebels closed in on a key northern town.
In Bamako, still tense four days after the coup, several hundred people gathered at a meeting of 38 political parties who announced the formation of a united front against the junta.
"Our aim is clear, to get the junta to leave," said Soumaila Cisse, who would have been one of the main presidential candidates in polls that had been planned for April 29 but were cancelled by the military rulers.
"This coup d'etat is unconstitutional and we will not accept it," he said.
"Get out Captain (Amadou) Sanogo," opposition supporters shouted, referring to the coup's leader.
The National Assembly issued a statement demanding an immediate return to constitutional order, the opening of all borders, the release of all arrested government officials and for elections to go ahead as planned.
Only one small opposition party has come out in support of the coup.
Fourteen government figures, including the prime minister and foreign minister, began a hunger strike over their detention at a military barracks outside the capital, which serves as the junta headquarters.
"There are 14 of us in a room of 12 square metres, sleeping three to a mattress," said a message from one of the officials sent to AFP.
"Our basic rights are being violated."
President Amadou Toumani Toure's whereabouts are still unknown, but he is believed to be safe under the protection of
(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...
Incompetent coup leaders. If you are going to lead a coup and form a ruling junta, you surely shouldn’t allow the opposition to hold a meeting and organize a united opposition.
curious. and this is of particular interest to you, because?
I’ve lived in Africa; every day is a coup d’etat somewhere; every day is an act of genocide....somewhere, in Africa. There aren’t many good jobs to have in Africa but I can name a few; arms dealer, mercenary, bush pilot, airport manager, (you make milliions on bribes); tin-pot dictator, (for a while) and finally, missionary-your almost guarenteed to get martyred, especially if your a white european or American.
From what I observed in the various “watering holes” of Kinshasa, Monrovia, Abidjan, Brazzaville and Freetown, white expatriate roustabouts in the oil bidness can do pretty well.
Then, it seems that some of the expatriate diamond merchants have literally reaped millions, at least when they've been able to dodge machete blades wielded by teenage “soldiers” in places like Sierra Leone.
Last but not least, if you've got talent as a writer, do like Frederick Forsythe — serve as a newspaper reporter in Africa for a few years, then turn your notes into a few blockbuster novels like “The Dogs of War.” You'll be a millionaire in short order!
A map of the Sahel region showing where Al Qaeda operates (AFP/Graphic)
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