Interim Mali President Dioncounda Traore has been taken to hospital with a head wound after being attacked by demonstrators, officials say.

He is said to have been unconscious on arrival, but later left the hospital.

The army says it shot dead three people during mass protests by supporters of March's coup who were angry at a deal for Mr Traore, 70, to remain in office for a year.

Mr Traore's initial mandate was due to expire on Monday.

But West African leaders reached a deal with coup leader Capt Amadou Sanogo for Mr Traore to stay on to organise elections and end a northern rebellion.

The deal also saw Capt Sanogo recognised as a former head of state with a salary and a mansion.


Mr Traore has now returned to his residence, reports say
Capt Sanogo has been silent all day and has not called on his supporters to leave the streets, correspondents say.

The coup, and ensuing rebel seizure of northern Mali, have led many thousands of people to flee their homes.

Aid agencies say they are extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Mali, which is also suffering from the regional drought.

Respect
Bamako-based journalist Martin Vogl says soldiers let some of thousands of demonstrators into Mr Traore's office, next to the presidential palace.

Continue reading the main story
Mali coup: The story so far


22 March: Junta seizes power, accusing President Amadou Toumani Toure of not enough to tackle rebels
28 March: Mali suspended by regional bloc, Ecowas
1 April: Rebels seize whole of north, including historic city of Timbuktu
6 April: Tuareg rebels declare independence for the north - not recognised internationally
12 April: Speaker of parliament Dioncounda Traore sworn in as Mali's interim leader
17 April: Junta arrests several allies of former President Toure
19 April: Mr Toure and his family flee to Senegal
20 May: Ecowas deal for Traore to stay for a year
"They beat him seriously and tore his clothes," military spokesman Bakary Mariko told Reuters news agency.

One of Mr Traore's close aides told the BBC that the president had suffered minor head injuries. He was later released from hospital.

Reports say he then returned to his residence.

Mr Mariko also said that during the protest "Dioncounda's security shot at people".

"There were three dead and some injured by gunshot amongst the demonstrators," the spokesman added.

Martin Vogl says there is some genuine support for the coup in Bamako and people are unhappy that a representative of the ousted political class was allowed to stay in power for a year.

They want a national convention of Mali's political parties and civic society groups to decide on the interim leader.

The protesters shouted slogans including "Down with Ecowas" and "Down with Dioncounda." Some carried a mock coffin with Mr Traore's name on it.

Earlier, mediators from West African regional bloc Ecowas left Bamako, saying "we have accomplished our mission".

Martin Vogl says that the status of a former head of state gives Capt Sanogo considerable respect, as well as a salary.

Chief Ecowas mediator, Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Djibrill Bassole, also said the coup leader would be able to consult Mr Traore and his prime minister until new elections are held next year.

Last week, Ecowas threatened to reimpose sanctions against the coup leaders, accusing them of continuing to meddle in the country's politics.

Capt Sanogo seized power in March and led the country for less than three weeks, before handing power to Mr Traore, the former speaker of parliament, in the face of intense international pressure and the rapid advance of rebels, whose seized the whole of the north - an area the size of France.

As part of the deal, the government is supposed to focus on recovering the north from a mixture of Tuareg separatists and Islamist fighters.

Some of the groups have links to al-Qaeda's branch in the region, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Ecowas has said it is preparing to send 3,000 troops to Mali to help the country reclaim its northern territory, but no date has been set for the force to arrive.

this is a very big massage to these wicked rulers here and there in africa. soon, we are going to explore the terms of democracy as govt of the ppl by the ppl and for the ppl.
just the other day, own jega escaped a mob attack. we must use violent to show these wicked animals that the wealth they enjoy belongs to all and not few. we must make know that we are no longer comfortable in our sufferings.
killing these beasts and the family members will send the right massages to them. i will be happy if we make it open to these criminals that we have accepted the enemies they treat us as.
that mali president is lucky this time but he might not be next time.

I support u my broda. Its tym we take our destiny in our hands. only if some tribes will not be cowardly nd betraying

I concurred. The fact is that we so much blessd but still live in penury, poverty, impoversihed, malnurished. I m an advocate on how we can establish the rawling'' s treatment in ghana to the so calld thieves(achimpong) and the likes of them. Our own armed robbers are parading themselves in the corridors of power. How on earth did we get to this stage? I bet u if we are stillunder colony , we would ve gone far far and yet we got independence only to be doldruns, political debacle, political impasse. Ipso facto, other countries have since moved , we pride ourselves as the giant of africa when in actual fact we are leap frogging, crawling like a baby. We are seriously in shambles. Generations to come mortgage and short change. Oh Lord save us fron the Tsunami, hurricane that is already whirling to destroy us all. Our leadership has been cancerous from one mestatic to another. We can only ve change when one of the pdp chieftain is sentenced to death. Punitive law is the key, though could be draconian, but it will stand the test of time, everyone will sit up , more focused and will be loyal to our great country. Sadly, the legendary fela saw all these how many years ago and will still can think , decipher what we should do to the so called leaders. They will suppress, cage you once they see you vocal n radical. All said God is on the throne.

But i doubt if that can happen here in Nigeria, first i think the security personnel attached to the president are also in support of the masses because i can't imagine angry mob getting so closed to President Goodluck and give him once in a life-time beating!

I also concur wit dat only if some ppl will nt tribalised or regionalised d issue, we d youth need 2 come 2geda irrespective of tribe, region or religion and chase d so call leader frm d corridor of power, we d youth hav suffered enuf

And you still leave the likes of buhari,babangida,obasonjo,gowon,abdusalami and co walk free like kings on the streets, what a hypocrite you are.

Opoki: But i doubt if that can happen here in Nigeria, first i think the security personnel attached to the president are also in support of the masses because i can't imagine angry mob getting so closed to President Goodluck and give him once in a life-time beating!

And you still leave the likes of buhari,babangida,obasonjo,gowon,abdusalami and co walk free like kings on the streets, what a hypocrite you are.

Wen 9jerians go get d mind try a stunt lak dis i wonder?
All our politicians and i mean evry corrupt, good 4 nothing, useless, fellows deserve a vry gud beat down.

Nigeria blessed,but we love tribalism&nepotism;in other word we are coward.During the election they will used their coated mouth to deceive us.they will share supertex of #500 to people in the north they will be shouting sai ka yi.People with questionable characters are given title and honor;mtn,ccon.juc,tki etc.Those capital fool have morgage these country.Instead of boko haram to face people in govt they are bushy killing poor and innocent people.

noiseless: And you still leave the likes of buhari,babangida,obasonjo,gowon,abdusalami and co walk free like kings on the streets, what a hypocrite you are.And you still leave the likes of buhari,babangida,obasonjo,gowon,abdusalami and co walk free like kings on the streets, what a hypocrite you are.

Honestly, i don't get your point.
You mean someone like me should dare to attack Obj, babangida and Co to prove that i was fully against their administration? Com'on i'm not a fool and neigher will you try such!

Loll !!! The protesters are not smiling.

[color=#006600][/color][b][/b]just the other day, own jega escaped a mob attack. we must use violent to show these wicked animals


dude u got it wrong, that man jaga is the best nigerian would ever have in the history of innec.
learn how to appriciate what u have u bogotttttttttttttttttttsssssssssss

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From the above account it has shows that the people of mali are tired of the ousted president but a bit comfortable with change of government probably in civilian form. The same thing can surely happen in Nigeria probably in the next 5 to 10years from mow and the mali interim president should consider himself luck because he may not be so luck next time.

LOL i doubt if these will happen in this country. 1. Aso rock is planned to the highest level with imposing amoury cars 2. The Coward and some tribalistic ethnic group will compromise the whole plan 3. How dare u drive through constitutional road to presidential villa?

This surely can't happen in Nigeria...with the level of security in the aso rock! Who is gonna lead it?

GEJ are you reading?you are next.

Abeg that kinda thing no fit happen for naija....will ijaw nation open eyes for head they watch hausa or yoruba man day beat jonathan?

Tribalism has killed d nation ...distingration is d answer

How I wish this happened in Nigeria! I think the only force that can free Nigerians from the carnivorous teeth of her demonic and vampirish rulers is Boko Haram. That is if only the group can direct all its fire power against government officials whether serving or retired. If Boko Haram has the intellectual capacity to undertake this lofty mission, it will win the love, support and admiration of at least 98% of Nigerians across all ethnic groups.

Fellow Nigerians, let's not despair. The night may be long, but day shall dawn in Nigeria. God will certainly send us a Moses and the Pharoes of Aso Rock, their horses and their riders shall drown in their own blood. J.J. Rawlings did it in Ghana, Romanians did it in recent history too. Nigerian Pharoes should realize that the world is getting smaller, that those countries  that give them red carpet reception today may not grant them asylum tomorrow.

See the pictures in front of the presidential palace and inside.


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Continue Reading @
http://www.emirates247.com/news-in-images/people-rule-the-palace-in-mali-2012-05-22-1.459808

mandsignal: NEXT TARGET .goodluck

.......If u target goodluck, den we will shld embraise badluck na?....nah nah i dnt subscribe 2 dat ooo instead target jonathan n leave goodluck, we still need goodluck abeg.....lol

chievo: .......If u target goodluck, den we will shld embraise badluck na?....nah nah i dnt subscribe 2 dat ooo instead target jonathan n leave goodluck, we still need goodluck abeg.....lol

.. I am d father of goodluck.

What an embarrasing, stone age sights in those photos.....na poverty dey make africans behave like this ni?

I think the Captain has a hand in this, He sure could have persuaded this urchins to behave...He is certainly going to be watched from now on.....law-less hooligans