Former Malian President Amadou Toumani Touré has died aged 72.

He died early Tuesday in Turkey where he was undergoing treatment. He arrived in Turkish commercial capital, Istanbul, a few days ago.
Before his departure from Mali, he had undergone an emergency heart surgery in the capital, Bamako.

He was Mali's president from 2002 until he was deposed by a military coup in March 2012 that was led by General Amadou Haya Sanogo.
Mr Touré was hailed for ending years of military rule and handing power to civilians after organising elections in 1992.

He was nicknamed the "soldier of democracy".