RENEGADE MALI SOLDIERS IN COUP BID

BAMAKO, Mali—Disgruntled soldiers have stormed state TV and radio in Mali's capital and cut off broadcasts in a growing fallout over a northern rebellion where Tuareg separatists are besting the military.


Soldiers say Defense Minister Gen. Sadio Gassama was visiting a military camp near the presidential palace in Bamako on Wednesday when unhappy young troopers started firing into the air. They then stoned the general's car, forcing him to leave the camp in haste.


Soon after, they stormed the offices of the state broadcaster, yanking both TV and radio off the air.


The soldiers said that the campaign in northern Mali is badly managed, short of arms and food supplies. They also said the government must take better care of the families of soldiers killed in the rebellion that started mid-January. Tens of thousands of people have fled within Mali and others to four neighboring countries.


The Obama administration said it is monitoring the unrest in Mali, including reports of a possible coup in the African nation the U.S. has long held up as an example of a thriving democracy.


Meanwhile an independent source said President Amadou Toumani Toure, earlier holed up in the palace as shots were traded outside, had managed to leave the premises.


A mutiny over the way government is handling a Tuareg insurrection in the north began on Wednesday afternoon and turned into an apparent coup attempt as soldiers seized control of the government broadcaster and attacked the presidential palace.


After an hours-long media blackout, a message flashed on television promising "a declaration from soldiers in an instant" from just before midnight local time while music videos played in the background.


At 1530 AEDT, a group of uniformed soldiers appeared on the screen. However, the sound equipment appeared not to be working and shortly afterwards the view again switched to music videos.


The one speaking was identified on the screen as Lieutenant Amadou Konare, spokesman of the National Committee for the Establishment of Democracy.