BBC News - Mali junta caught between rebels and Ecowas sanctions

BBC News - Mali junta caught between rebels and Ecowas sanctions: "West African leaders had given Mali's junta until Monday to leave power or face sanctions.

The army said it had staged its coup because the campaign against the Tuareg rebels had been poorly run.

But the Tuareg fighters have responded by making rapid advances.

After seizing the historic city of Timbuktu on Sunday, rebel spokesman Moussa Ag Assarid told the BBC that his forces had no intention of moving south, towards the capital, Bamako, but would consolidate their control of the areas they had seized.

His National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) group wants independence for the Tuareg's northern homeland, which it calls Azawad. Other rebel forces in the north have recently joined forces with Islamist militants in the region."

'via Blog this'