Mali rebels plant flag in Timbuktu

Malian rebels have planted their flag in the northern town of Timbuktu after government forces fled the ancient trading post, a local lawmaker and a resident told Reuters.
   
"They have arrived in the town. They are planting their flag," El Hadj Baba Haidara, member of parliament for Timbuktu, told Reuters by telephone. A resident said the MNLA rebels had planted their flag at the governor's office, the mayor's office and the main military camp.
   
Both sources said the town was mainly quiet, except for sporadic gunfire. It was not immediately clear if the rebels were in full control as an Arab-led militia remained in town after government forces fled.

The leader of Mali's recent coup earlier said he is reinstating the nation's previous constitution amid international pressure to restore constitutional order.       

Capt. Amadou Haya Sanogo, who grabbed power in a military takeover March 21 and dissolved the nation's constitution, said Sunday the 1992 law has been "reinstated."        

It's not clear what the constitutional change means.        

The move is intended to stave off the crippling financial sanctions that were due to hit the West African nation in less than 24 hours if the junta failed to hand power back to civilians.         

Sanogo said a national convention would be held to organize elections. However, he failed to announce a timeline for the elections and deflected a question on whether he still considers himself the president of Mali.

AP/Reuters