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press TV
Thousands of Malians have staged rallies in the capital, Bamako, to protest against the ruling military and the “unnecessary” involvement of the army in politics, Press TV reports.

Carrying placards, the protesters called for the restoration of constitutional rule, demanding the military to withdraw from politics.

Political leaders also joined the crowd across the city, denouncing the military presence in the capital while the troubled northern part of the country is under the control of local Turaq rebels.

The Malians who spoke to Press TV accused the military of being reluctant to protect the county’s territorial integrity and of arresting the politicians opposed to junta leader Captain Sanogo Amadou.

“They go to people’s houses you know, make false accusations, taking people wherever they want to take them. We don’t want that anymore," said one of the protesters.

The protesters said the liberation of the country’s north should be taken as a priority and the junta should stop the arbitrary arrests.

In a recent exclusive interview with Press TV, Captain Sanogo defended the arrests claiming they were never political and that those arrested were involved in cases that had to be addressed.

The junta released the detainees following wide criticism especially from the United Nations.

Junta leader Captain Sanogo continues to wield power despite the presence of interim President Dioncounda Traore and the recent appointment of a new prime minister, Cheick Modibo Diarra.

On March 23, Captain Sanogo led a coup that toppled the government of Toumani Toure a few weeks before a planned presidential election.

The military says it overthrew the former government because it had not done enough in the military campaign against separatist Tuareg rebels in the north.

On April 6, the Tuareg rebel group in northern Mali declared independence after driving army troops out of their main operation centers in the area.