ECOWAS rejects attempt to impose Mali coup leader as Interim President (Corrected)

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has rejected attempts to impose Malian coup leader Capt. Amadou Sanogo as Interim President of the country.

Interim President Dioncounda Traore was assaulted by a protesting mob in his office 21 May, necessitating his travelling abroad to get medical attention.

A statement by ECOWAS Commission President Desire Ouedraogo, made available to PANA here Tuesday, warned those behind the on-going campaign ''to desist henceforth from such acts or face the sanctions adopted by the Mediation and Security Council''

It said the political forces behind the mob attack were persisting ''in their regrettable and unpatriotic attempts to disrupt the transitional process at a critical time when the territorial integrity of the country is under serious threat''.

''The latest campaign by these forces to impose Capt. Amadou Sanogo, the leader of the CNRDRE, on the country as Interim President  not only contravenes the ECOWAS principle of 'Zero Tolerance' for power obtained or maintained by unconstitutional means, but it also seeks to further disrupt the roadmap for the restoration of constitutional order in Mali.

''ECOWAS reaffirms its unflinching support to the transitional authorities. it considers any public declaration or demonstration in support of designating any new leaders outside the recognized transitional authorities as a flagrant obstruction to the transitional process,'' the statement said.
-0- PANA SEG 29May2012