Coup a 'Significant Setback for Mali'

The world is strongly condemning the mutinous soldiers in Mali who ousted the president and took control of the west African country, reports the BBC. The World Bank, African Development Bank, and France are all suspending all their aid programs to Mali for now, and the UN Security Council called for the "immediate restoration of constitutional rule and the democratically elected government."

The Economic Community of West African States called the coup "reprehensible," while the African Union said it was a "significant setback for Mali." The soldier leading the mutiny is a mid-ranking one, the troops do not have widespread support from the country's military, and many observers think the coup may not last. Mali has been a democracy for 20 years, and the mutinying soldiers say next month's presidential election will continue as planned, promising to hand power over to an elected government. (More Mali stories.)