Mali's parliament has extended the nationwide state of emergency to June 6, Radio Mali reported Friday, according to dpa. Interim President Dioncounda Traore declared a state of emergency in January, as France launched a military intervention against Islamist rebels in the north of the country. The radio report said the National Assembly passed a bill for the extension. A presidential election has been set for July 7, with legislative elections later in the month, as part of a deal reached after the government in Bamako was overthrown in a military coup a year ago. Insurgents have since been driven out of their main strongholds in Mali's far north by French and African coalition forces but security remains volatile in former jihadist strongholds of Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu. -- SPA 20:07 LOCAL TIME 17:07 GMT تغريد
