Malian rebels seize more territory

Tuareg rebels have captured the town of Kidal, just a week after the military seized power saying the army needed more equipment to fight the insurgents.

Kidal, which has 40,000 inhabitants, is by far the biggest town seized by the Tuareg rebels.

As the news was coming through, coup leader Capt Amadou Sanogo asked for foreign help to tackle the rebels. The coup has been condemned and Mali's neighbours have threatened sanctions.

The regional body, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), said it would close land borders, freeze Mali's assets and impose a financial blockade if the army did not stand aside before Monday.

They have also placed a peacekeeping force on standby.

Meanwhile, Malians in the country's north, where a Tuareg rebellion buoyed by last week's coup is raging, have rallied in support of the new military leaders.

Mali's army said on Saturday that it had withdrawn its troops from the northern towns of Ansogo and Bourem to reinforce its positions in Gao, hours after thousands marched there to voice approval of the coup leaders and the offensive against Tuareg rebels.

Gao is the largest town in northern Mali that remains under the control of Mali's new military rulers.

Protesters, some holding banners that read "Peace first, elections later", took to the streets in what appeared to be a direct rejection of international calls for the military leaders to step down.