Hundreds of Malians protest constitutional reforms

BAMAKO (AFP) - Hundreds of people took to the streets of Bamako on Wednesday to demand that a referendum on proposed changes to the constitution be shelved, an AFP correspondent reported.

Protesters chanted "the referendum is a trap", brandishing banners saying: "The reform is a coup d'etat against democracy".

The protest march was organised by the "Don't touch my constitution" movement, a coalition of political parties, unions and non-governmental organisations.

"The text to be submitted to a referendum is a step backwards compared to the old text," said magistrate Hameye Foune Mahalmadane, a member of the movement, adding further marches protesting the changes would be organised.

The changes, first announced in December 2009, include the creation of a Senate as a second house of parliament and will give the president the power to "define the nation's policy" as opposed to the prime minister.

The referendum will coincide with presidential elections in April 2012, which mark the end of President Amadou Toumani Toure's two terms in office, and detractors feel he should not be making changes on his way out.

The South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies in 2010 praised the reforms as a model for the continent, especially plans to institutionalise the status of the opposition and give the opposition leader rank and privileges.

"As access to and control of political power is the surest way to self-enrichment, opposition is generally excluded and has to wait for its 'turn to eat'," ISS analysts wrote on their website.

Toure led a military coup in 1991 and honoured a promise to hand over power to an elected civilian. He later came to power as an independent candidate in 2002, and was re-elected in 2007.