Shooting erupted Friday in the Malian capital Bamako amid reports of a mutiny by paratroopers loyal to former president Amadou Toumani Toure.

Witnesses reported injuries in the exchange of fire between government troops and the paratroopers surrounded in a camp in the southern part of the city.

The paratroopers, locally known as red berets, last fought with green berets allied to the ex-military junta in a mutiny over night of April 30 and May 1, 2012.

The military linked the renewed insurgency to strict discipline imposed on the red berets, whose last mutiny proved short-lived.

Mali remains unstable since Toure was ousted on March 22, 2012. Rebels took advantage of the coup to seize the northern part of the West African country.

In December 2012, the then prime minister of the transitional government, Cheick Modibo Diarra, announced resignation and dissolved the cabinet after arrested by troops supportive of ex- coup leader Amadou Sanogo.

Northern rebels continued southward push in January 2013, briefly taking the key town of Konna in central Mali, threatening the Bamako-based government of transition, which is recognized by the international community.

The Malian army launched counter-offensives with the backing of other African countries and France, the former colonial ruler of Mali.

Rebels have retreated in disarray since the French military intervention on Jan. 11, with the Malian government taking back the northern towns of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal, which also serve as the capitals of the three northern regions having the same names.

Although Mali's transitional president Dioncounda Traore announced recently that the country will hold elections on July 31 to end the crisis, analysts see uphill tasks ahead to restore territorial integrity and constitutional rule in the aftermath of the coup and rebellions. Endi

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