THE prosecutor for the third district of Bamako Sombe Thera announced the opening of an inquiry against some senior and junior Malian soldiers. A confrontation between the army’s Red berets and the Green berets on the night of April 30 and May 1 has led to the detention of some officers. According to Thera, the inquiry has been opened against the accused for threatening state security through illegal use of weapons, association with criminals, assassinations, causing injuries, looting and illegal handling of weapons. The statement that announced the opening of the inquiry said those who are under investigations include general brigadier Hamidou Sissoko, colonel Abdoulaye Cisse, commander Abba Abdel Kader Coulibaly, aviation commander Mamadou Lamine Konare, lieutenant Aly Traore, lieutenant Mohamed Ismael Kanoute, lieutenant Abdoul Wahab Coulibaly, Adama Siriman Coulibaly, Ismael Traore and colonel Abidina Guindo. According to the statement, at the moment the whereabouts of colonel Abidina Guindo remains unknown. He was the immediate commander of paratroopers the Red berets. Through the statement, the prosecutor promised that the inquiry will strictly respect the rules of procedure.
