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| Africa North |
| Thousands march in Mali streets to support junta |
| 2012-03-29 |
| [Dawn] Several thousand people erupted into the streets of Mali's capital 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 of this vast and impoverished country. The Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, is also putting a peacekeeping force on standby but the junta leaders are working hard to give the semblance of normality here, and thousands are hoping the junta will stay. "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." Toure said the marchers wanted ECOWAS to recognize the new leadership. "Capt. Sanogo isn't here to hold onto power, but just to bring some order to the country," she said, referring to coup leader Capt. Amadou Sanogo. The new constitution was read on state TV late Tuesday night. The 69-article constitution includes many of the guarantees of the former law, including the guarantees of free speech, liberty of movement and freedom of thought. New measures include the creation of a military-led council headed by Sanogo. It says that the new head of state is simultaneously the head of the army, the head of the government and the head of the judiciary. |
| Posted by:Fred |