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    March 29, 2012

ECOWAS Delegation Turns Back From Mali

   VOA News
   Malians who back the military coup d'etat, demonstrate in the capital
   Bamako, Mali, March 28, 2012.
   Photo: Reuters
   Malians who back the military coup d'etat, demonstrate in the capital
   Bamako, Mali, March 28, 2012.

   A delegation of West African presidents has abandoned plans to meet
   with Mali's junta leaders following reports of pro-coup protests at the
   airport and in the capital.
   The delegation from the regional bloc ECOWAS, which included the
   leaders of Ivory Coast, Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso, was scheduled to
   meet Thursday in Mali's capital, Bamako, to press for a deal restoring
   constitutional rule.

   An advisor to Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara said the president's
   airplane entered Malian airspace, but turned around in mid-air because
   demonstrators were on the runway.
   Diplomatic sources say the other presidents scrapped their plans to
   attend the talks. The regional group is expected to have an emergency
   meeting in Abidjan.
   Earlier this week, the regional bloc suspended Mali and threatened
   sanctions on the new junta and possible military action if necessary.
   Malian President Amadou Toumani Touré was deposed last week in a coup
   by soldiers angry at his handling of an ethnic Tuareg rebellion in the
   north.
   Touré told French media on Wednesday that he is not in detention and
   remains in the country.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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