eject
safely. One of them was found apologising
profusely
to the local people for having crashed into their neighbourhood. Both of those pilots and, we think, about four or five other people taken to hospital, no, apparently no life-threatening injury.
There's been international condemnation of a declaration of independence by Tuareg rebels in northern Mali where they seized control two weeks after a coup threw the country into turmoil. African leaders, the European Union and the United States rejected the move by National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad. France, Mali's former colonial power, had a similar response. Its foreign ministry spokesman is Bernard Valero.
"We consider that the unilateral declaration of independence by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad is
null and void
. We call on the MNLA to bring its action within the framework of a political dialogue, respectful of the rules of the Mali constitution and the country's unity."
Meanwhile, the leader of the coup, Captain Amadou Haya Sanogo, has said the process is underway to make the speaker of parliament the next head of state.
There's still been no official announcement in Malawi following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika, who suffered a heart attack on Thursday. Correspondents say there's thought to be disagreement among senior members of the government over who should
take charge
.