“Malians Occupy Presidential Villa”; and overthrow the country’s President

“Malians Occupy Presidential Villa”; and overthrow the country’s President Interim Mali President Dioncounda Traore has been taken to hospital with a head wound after being attacked inside the presidential villa by demonstrators, medical sources say. "They beat him seriously and tore his clothes," an eye-witness said   Dioncounda Traore, Mali's interim president, has been taken to hospital with a head wound after being attacked by demonstrators, medical sources say. Demonstrators attacked him at his office on Monday, knocking him unconscious. Thousands of supporters of March's coup marched in protest at a deal for Traore to remain in office for a year, Traore's mandate was due to expire on Monday. But West African leaders reached a deal with coup leader Captain Amadou Sanogo for Traore to stay on to organise elections and end the Tuareg northern rebellion. Traore was brought to the Point G Hospital, said Sekou Yattara, a medical student there. The occupation of the presidential palace came after protesters also paralysed traffic and blocked bridges with burning tyres in the capital Bamako. Traore had not been using offices in the palace itself as that building was ransacked during a coup in March. Demonstrators chanted slogans hostile to the 15-state West African regional bloc ECOWAS, which had threatened sanctions against Sanogo unless he allows Traore to remain in charge. "We don't want Dioncounda" and "Down with ECOWAS" chanted some in the crowd. Martin Vogl, a journalist based in Mali told Al Jazeera: "Sources in the hospital told me Traore had head injuries, it is likely he had head injuries." "What will be interesting to see if the president will go back to his job, and what will the junta leaders now do," said Vogl. Traore became interim president following a deal, negotiated by Mali's neighbors with the military officers that led the March 21 coup. The unexpected military takeover ousted the country's democratically elected president, just months before he was due to step down following the end of his legal term. Traore is a labour activist turned political grandee who before his appointment last month as caretaker president was national parliament speaker. He held various ministerial jobs in the 1990's and is seen by his critics as part of a self-serving political elite that has misruled the country for years. ECOWAS has pledged to send a 3,000-strong force to Mali to help it restore its authority in the north, but it has not made any commitment to actually send troops to fight in the north and its precise mandate remains under discussion. The ousted President was reportedly unconscious when he arrived at hospital. The army says they shot dead three people during mass protests by supporters of March's coup who were angry at a deal for Mr Traore, 70, to remain in office for a year. Mr Traore's initial mandate was due to expire on Monday. But West African leaders reached a deal with coup leader Capt Amadou Sanogo for Mr Traore to stay on to organise elections and end a northern rebellion. The deal also saw Capt Sanogo recognised as a former head of state with a salary and a mansion. The coup, and ensuing rebel seizure of northern Mali, have led many thousands of people to flee their homes. Aid agencies say they are extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Mali, which is also suffering from the regional drought. Bamako-based journalist Martin Vogl says soldiers let some of the protesters into Mr Traore's office, next to the presidential palace. "They beat him seriously and tore his clothes," military spokesman Bakary Mariko told Reuters news agency. "There were three dead and some injured by gunshot amongst the demonstrators. Dioncounda's security shot at people," Mr Mariko said. A source in Mr Traore's office told the AFP news agency that the president's life was not in danger. Martin Vogl says there is some genuine support for the coup in Bamako and people are unhappy that a representative of the ousted political class was allowed to stay in power for a year. They want a national convention of Mali's political parties and civic society groups to decide on the interim leader. The protesters shouted slogans including "Down with Ecowas" and "Down with Dioncounda." Some carried a mock coffin with Mr Traore's name on it. Earlier, mediators from West African regional bloc Ecowas left Bamako, saying "we have accomplished our mission". Martin Vogl says that the status of a former head of state gives Capt Sanogo considerable respect, as well as a salary. Chief Ecowas mediator, Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Djibrill Bassole, also said the coup leader would be able to consult Mr Traore, 70, and his prime minister until new elections are held next year. Last week, Ecowas threatened to reimpose sanctions against the coup leaders, accusing them of continuing to meddle in the country's politics. Capt Sanogo seized power in March and led the country for less than three weeks, before handing power to Mr Traore, the former speaker of parliament, in the face of intense international pressure and the rapid advance of rebels, whose seized the whole of the north - an area the size of France. As part of the deal, the government is supposed to focus on recovering the north from a mixture of Tuareg separatists and Islamist fighters. Some of the groups have links to al-Qaeda's branch in the region, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Ecowas has said it is preparing to send 3,000 troops to Mali to help the country reclaim its northern territory, but no date has been set for the force to arrive.