Bamako: Mali’s interim president Diouncounda Traore, who was beaten by a mob of demonstrators who broke into his office this week, left the country to seek medical treatment in France, an adviser and two French government officials said on Wednesday.
According to media reports Mali’s interim government spokesman Hamadoun Toure said on state television that the medical visit had been long planned and Traore would return once he was cleared by his doctor.
“Due to an unfortunate coincidence of events, his visit to the French capital comes two days after an attack perpetrated against him by demonstrators while he was in his office,” Toure said in a brief statement on television.
A tug-of-war for leadership of coup-stricken Mali has emerged between supporters of the ruling military junta and those backing Traore, who has been guiding a transition back to democracy since April.
The uncertainty could complicate international efforts to restore constitutional order in the West African state since mutinous soldiers toppled the government on March 22, paving the way for rebels to take over the country’s north.
Junta supporters want coup leader Captain Amadou Sanogo to take over the role of interim president from Traore, after a 40-day deadline imposed on his leadership by the junta expired on May 22.
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