Several thousand Malians gathered in Bamako on Saturday (November 24th) to demonstrate against religious extremism and the occupation of the country's north by jihadists, AFP reported.

"Our country has known Islam for more than three centuries. We cannot accept the religious extremism which currently exists in northern Mali," renowned Malian preacher Cherif Ousmane Madani Haidara told the crowd.

"This protest also marks the will of an entire nation to rapidly obtain the reunification of the country and to drive the enemy out of our country," parliamentary speaker Ynousssi Toure said.

The demonstration was attended by political party representatives, religious leaders as well as former coup leader Captain Amadou Sanogo.