Mali coup: Army arrests ex-President Amadou Toure allies

Soldiers have arrested several allies of Mali’s ousted President Amadou Toumani Toure days after handing power to a civilian leader, witnesses say.Former Prime Minister Modibo Sidibe was picked up by men in military police vehicles, an aide said.

Ex-Defence Minister Sadio Gassama and chief of staff, Gen Hamidou Sissoko, have also been arrested. Bamako-based journalist Martin Vogl says the arrests suggest Mali’s interim leader does not have total authority. Dioncounda Traore – sworn in as interim president last week – has refused to comment on the arrests – while the European Union delegation in Mali has called for “an urgent clarification and their immediate release”. The head of one of Mali’s biggest political parties, Soumaila Cisse, has also reportedly been detained. Mr Cisse was a frontrunner in elections due this month but derailed by last month’s coup led by Capt Amadou Sanogo. A top ranking policeman, Mahamadou Diagouraga, was also detained, the AP news agency reports. All those arrested have reportedly been taken to Kati, the junta headquarters just outside the capital, Bamako.