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French ambassador to Mali reassured after talking to ousted President Touré

France says its ambassador to Mali has held a reassuring phone conversation with President Amadou Toumani Touré, whose fate had been unclear since he was ousted by renegade soldiers last week. 

Reuters/Toussaint Kluiters/United Photos/Files
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Christian Rouyer "was able to speak on the phone to the president , who gave him assurances over his fate," French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told the French new agency. Valero refused to give any details of President Touré’s current location.

Since the coup last week, Touré’s whereabout have remained a mystery. No-one knows if he is preparing a counter-offensive with loyal troops or if he is being held prisoner by the soldiers who carried out the coup.

Meanwhile, businesses reopened and children returned to school on Tuesday after a call by the junta to return to work, but the coup leaders faced further pressure as west African leaders held emergency talks in Côte d’Ivoire.

The coup has already led to Mali being suspended from the African Union, and seen crucial aid frozen by the United States, Europe and Canada.

Seven heads of state from the 15-member Ecowas were attending the summit called by the grouping's current chairman, Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara.

The band of low-ranking officers justify their takeover of an "incompetent" government by arguing they are insufficiently equipped to face the Tuareg rebellion.

The Tuareg have said in recent days they are close to capturing Kidal, a key town in the northern triangle of the bow-tie shaped nation
 

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