Malian soldiers have toppled their democratically-elected president to establish an emergency junta:

“The National Committee for the Establishment of Democracy (CNRDR) representing all the elements of the armed forces, defensive forces and security forces has decided to assume its responsibilities and end the incompetent and disavowed regime of Amadou Toumani Toure,” Konare said on TV, reading from a statement.

“All the institutions of the republic are dissolved until further notice.”

He said the aim was not to seize power but to hold democratic elections once the Tuareg rebellion was crushed.

“We solemnly swear to return power to a democratically elected president as soon as national unity and territorial integrity are established,” Konare said.

The Libyan intervention now has the unfortunate distinction of being the first in recent memory to lead to a military coup in a neighboring democratic country.

Update: The BBC has more on the coup and the role of the Libyan intervention in leading to these events:

Some Malian officials have blamed Nato for the crisis in the north after it helped Libyan insurgents topple Col Gaddafi.

“Western powers have underestimated that getting rid of Gaddafi would have severe repercussions in the Sahel region,” Mr Kebe says.

It’s probably more accurate to say that Western powers didn’t care what effect toppling Gaddafi would have on the Sahel region.