Thousands of demonstrators chanted pro-junta slogans in Mali's capital on Wednesday, protesting against the threats of foreign powers to use sanctions to force the leaders of last week's military coup to step down. Deposed leader Amadou Toumani Toure, meanwhile, said in his first public comments since he was ousted that he was free and unharmed somewhere inside the West African nation, and called for a swift solution to the crisis.
The coup, seen as a setback to fragile democratic gains in Africa, was triggered by army anger at Toure's handling of a Tuareg rebellion in north Mali that in recent weeks has gained ground and inflicted losses on the army.