Jihadists urge united front against Mali junta as Bamako blockade begins

Jihadist fighters in Mali have called for a broad uprising against the country’s military rulers, escalating tensions as they move to tighten pressure on the capital, Bamako. The appeal comes days after coordinated attacks on junta positions and coincides with the start of a blockade on key roads into the city, raising fears of further instability in a nation already grappling with years of conflict and political upheaval.