VOA News: Africa: UN Condems Mali Coup

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

UN Condems Mali Coup Mar 26th 2012, 18:55 Important Dates in Mali September 22, 1960 - The Republic of Mali declares independence from France. President Modibo Keita declares a single-party state. November 19, 1968 - A bloodless coup puts Lt. Moussa Traore into power. Under his rule, Mali approves a new constitution, but is still a single-party state. June 1979 - Mr. Traore, now a general, wins 99% of the vote in a single-party election. 1980 - Student-led, anti-government protests are brutally put down and three coup attempts are foiled. General Traore stays in power. March 22-26, 1991 - After four days of intense anti-government rioting, President Traore is overthrown in a military coup. 1991 - 1992 - General Amadou Toumani Toure leads a transition back to civilian rule. Mali's new constitution allows political parties to form freely. 1992 - 2002 - Alpha Oumar Konare is elected and serves two terms as president. He does not seek re-election to a third term. 2002-2012 - General Amadou Toumani Toure, now retired from the military, is elected president and also serves two terms. He says he will not seek a 3rd term. March 21-22, 2012 - Soldiers protest against the government's handling of the Tuareg rebellion and declare a coup. The United Nations Security Council says it strongly condemns the "forcible seizure of power" from Mali's democratically elected government. In a statement released on Monday, the world body called on "mutinous troops" to cease all violence and return to their barracks. The Security Council demanded that constitutional order be restored and elections be held in late April as previously planned. Earlier on Monday, hundreds of people demonstrated in the capital, Bamako against last week's military coup. The African Union has suspended Mali's membership and the United States and European Union continue to recognize President Amadou Toumani Touré as the country's leader.  Mr. Touré who was due to step down at the end of his second term weeks from now. The renegade troops say they took power in order to launch a more effective response to an ethnic Tuareg rebellion in the north. Since the coup late Wednesday, Tuareg rebels have advanced against northern towns. Heavily-armed Tuareg separatists started attacking army bases in Mali's desert in January, after many Tuareg fighters returned from Libya. Tuareg nomads have periodically launched uprisings for greater autonomy in Mali and Niger. Media files: ap_mali_coup_protest_480_eng_26mar12.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.2 MB) ap_mali_coup_protest_230_eng_26mar12.jpg

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