16 hurt as Mali opposition, security forces clash in march

BAMAKO (AP):

An organiser says 16 people were injured in clashes between Mali's security forces and opposition supporters yesterday during a prohibited march ahead of elections.

Cheick Diallo says the injured include two candidates for president in the July 29 election, Igor Diarra and Aliou Diallo.

This was the first such clash ahead of the West African nation's vote in which President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is running again.

Opposition leaders organised yesterday's march to call for free and transparent elections and for more state television coverage of their activities.