Mali Prime Minister

Mali's interim president and premier have been released, a military official said Thursday, three days after they were detained and stripped of their powers in what appeared to be the country's second coup in nine months.

Mali's president said he was resigning to avoid "bloodshed" early Wednesday, hours after his arrest by troops in a sudden coup that followed a months-long political crisis in the fragile West African nation.

Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita named a former Head of government, Modibo Keita, as the new Prime Minister on Thursday after the previous government resigned, state television said.

French President Francois Hollande on Monday demanded the release of top civil servants and others taken hostage in Mali's north after deadly clashes between separatists and the army.

Mali's Prime Minister Moussa Mara warned Sunday the country was "at war" with terrorists in the northern city of Kidal, after clashes between separatist militants and the army left dozens dead.

Former Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was the favourite to win a presidential election on Sunday that Malians hope will restore stability in a country torn apart by last year's coup and Islamist insurgency.

Mali's interim President has named a replacement Prime Minister after soldiers behind a coup earlier this year forced out his predecessor and placed him under house arrest, provoking international condemnation.

Mali's interim president has named a replacement prime minister after soldiers behind a coup earlier this year forced out his predecessor and placed him under house arrest, provoking international condemnation.

Malian Prime Minister Cheik Modibo Diarra announced the resignation of himself and his government early on Tuesday just hours after he was arrested at home by soldiers acting on the orders of ex-coup leader Amadou Sanogo.

Malian soldiers arrested Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra at his home late on Monday, acting on the orders of ex-coup leader Amadou Sanogo, a member of the premier's entourage told AFP.

Soldiers arrested the head of one of Mali's biggest political parties and officials from the country's ousted government today, deepening questions about whether the military is still in control even as a new civilian prime minister was appointed to the interim government.

Mali's interim president and premier have been released, a military official said Thursday, three days after they were detained and stripped of their powers in what appeared to be the country's second coup in nine months.

Mali's president said he was resigning to avoid "bloodshed" early Wednesday, hours after his arrest by troops in a sudden coup that followed a months-long political crisis in the fragile West African nation.

Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita named a former Head of government, Modibo Keita, as the new Prime Minister on Thursday after the previous government resigned, state television said.

French President Francois Hollande on Monday demanded the release of top civil servants and others taken hostage in Mali's north after deadly clashes between separatists and the army.

Mali's Prime Minister Moussa Mara warned Sunday the country was "at war" with terrorists in the northern city of Kidal, after clashes between separatist militants and the army left dozens dead.

Former Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was the favourite to win a presidential election on Sunday that Malians hope will restore stability in a country torn apart by last year's coup and Islamist insurgency.

Mali's interim President has named a replacement Prime Minister after soldiers behind a coup earlier this year forced out his predecessor and placed him under house arrest, provoking international condemnation.

Mali's interim president has named a replacement prime minister after soldiers behind a coup earlier this year forced out his predecessor and placed him under house arrest, provoking international condemnation.

Malian Prime Minister Cheik Modibo Diarra announced the resignation of himself and his government early on Tuesday just hours after he was arrested at home by soldiers acting on the orders of ex-coup leader Amadou Sanogo.

Malian soldiers arrested Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra at his home late on Monday, acting on the orders of ex-coup leader Amadou Sanogo, a member of the premier's entourage told AFP.

Soldiers arrested the head of one of Mali's biggest political parties and officials from the country's ousted government today, deepening questions about whether the military is still in control even as a new civilian prime minister was appointed to the interim government.