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Mali: Gunfire, fighting continue in the capital Bamako
“Most of the families who live here and most of the military personnel have fled, but they still come to attack the camp,” the resident said. He asked for anonymity for fear of reprisals. He said that he could hear both small arms fire and heavy weapons but could not give more details as he was afraid to leave his house.
State television showed a small group of prisoners along with guns, ammunition and grenades supposedly belonging to the captured troops.
“Those arrested come from different origins and were supported by hidden internal forces,” a statement read by soldiers Tuesday said. “Some of these people have been detained by the armed forces and an in-depth investigation will take place. We remind you that everyone involved … will be tracked down and brought before the competent jurisdictions.”
Sanogo has signed a deal with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African regional bloc, to return the country to constitutional rule. The deal gave the junta a supervisory role in the transition. But Sanogo said Sunday that he rejects a plan to send ECOWAS troops to Mali to protect the president’s and prime minister’s office.
Mali is also battling insecurity in its desert north where separatist rebels have declared independence, and militants are trying to impose strict Islamic law.
Tuareg separatist fighters and Islamic militants took advantage of the chaos caused by the coup in Bamako last month to quickly advance and capture the three main towns in the north of Mali at the end of March. Mali government forces fled south without putting up any major resistance.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press
