Malians protest extension of interim govt

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Pretoria - Mali's transition president Diancounda Traore was seriously injured and hospitalised on Monday after a group of protesters burst into the presidential palace and attacked him.

The demonstrators were fighting against an internationally-backed accord to extend the mandate of civilian interim president Traore.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) reached an agreement with the junta on the extension of the mandate of the transitional presidency. Under the deal, Traore would lead a 12-month transition back to democratic rule.

After the announcement of the agreement, thousands of pro-junta supporters took to the streets on Monday to protest the deal.