Coup in Mali

The military of Mali said that they have occupied the palace of President Amadou Toumani Toure and arrested several ministers, RIA Novosti reports on Thursday.

Another military spokesman confirmed that Foreign Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga is among the arrested ministers.

Earlier reports said that the military took control of the state TV and radio center in Bamako.

The military uprising was provoked by suppression of Tuaregs, because soldiers lacked food and ammunition. The military demanded more government support for their families.

Tuaregs organized the National Movement for Free Azavad, fighting for independence of the Azavad Region of Sahara, consisting of north-eastern and eastern Mali, northern Burkina Faso, western and north-western Niger, south-eastern Algiers and south-western Libya. Local media say that they were supported by former Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed in the revolution in 2011. The latest separatism acts are believed to be backed by former support of Gaddafi.