Alive and kicking.<br/> <br />Captain Amadou Sanogo, the leader of the military coup in Mali, appears on television Saturday to dispel rumours that he'd been killed in a counter-insurgency.<br/> <br />Sanogo said the country's military remains in control of the West African state - despite days of chaos and rioting that have followed the overthrow of president Toure.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (French) MALIAN COUP LEADER CAPTAIN AMADOU SANOGO SAYING:<br/> <br />"I call on all Malians to stop without delay, these acts of vandalism and looting - that is not our mission, cause or objective."<br/> <br />On March 22, elements of the Mali army stormed the capital Bamako, forcing Toure to flee.<br/> <br />Since then there have been widespread reports of looting by soldiers and questions about whether the coup leaders can consolidate their power.<br/> <br />The uprising has been condemend by Mali's neighbours, the U.N. and Western powers, who have called for a return to constitutional rule.<br/> <br />Andrew Raven, Reuters.
