Mali coup leader denies looting by his soldiers Capt. Amadou Sanago blamed "ill-intentioned" people for the vandalism Looters ransacked the capital, Bamako, after food and fuel became scarce Renegade soldiers rose up over the government's handing of the Tuareg insurgency The coup in Mali, a stronghold for democracy, drew international condemnation Bamako, Mali (CNN) -- Mali's junta leader Capt. Amadou Sanogo decried looting of offices and shops in the capital, Bamako, but deflected blame from his renegade soldiers who staged a coup just weeks before scheduled elections. Sanogo blamed "ill-intentioned" people who were against the military takeover in Mali, once hailed as a shining example of African democracy. Vandals ransacked Bamako, after food, fuel and basic commodities became scarce. "I deplore the acts of vandalism and pillaging which have occurred," Sanogo said on state television late Friday, urging Malians to stop the vandalism. "This is not our mission, this is not our cause, this is not our objective," he said. Sanogo's soldiers usurped power earlier this week, wresting control of the nation from President Amadou Toumani Toure. The coup drew immediate and strong international condemnation. The African Union suspended Mali's membership Friday and the United States said that aid to the West African nation of 15 million people could "very seriously be affected." The United States gives Mali's government roughly $140 million in aid each year. A little more than half of that is humanitarian aid -- food, etc. -- that would not be affected. But if the situation is not resolved democratically, the remaining portion of that aid could very seriously be affected," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. "Any U.S. assistance to the government of Mali, beyond what we give for humanitarian purposes, is at risk if we cannot get back to a democratic situation in the country," she said. The new military junta suspended Mali's constitution and closed the nation's borders. Toure's whereabouts remain unknown. African Union chief Jean Ping said Toure was in still in Mali and was apparently "protected by his royal guard." Nuland said the same. The mutineers who seized control accused the government of mishandling an insurgency by Tuareg nomads, who have long called for the creation of an independent state and have risen up against the Malian government a number of times since the 1960s. The Tuareg took advantage of the chaos in the capital and pushed south to occupy the town of Anefis, previously held by the Malian soldiers, according to an online statement from the Azawad National Liberation Movement. They announced on Radio France International that they would go after other cities, including Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu, that they said were rightfully theirs. Sanogo has said he would reach out to the rebels for talks. The junta declared a nationwide curfew but called on people to return to work Tuesday. It also said Mali will hold elections for a new president, though no date was announced. A 1991 military coup led by Toure ended a dictatorship in the landlocked nation. The U.S. Embassy in Bamako advised Americans to stay within their homes because of the instability. The State Department warned against travel to Mali. CNN's Pierre Meilhan and Moni Basu and journalist Julius Cavendish contributed to this report.