UN mission in Mali calls for immediate release of detained president and PM

The United Nations mission in Mali on Monday called for the "immediate and unconditional" release of the country's president and prime minister, who were detained by the military, Report informs, citing foreign media.

The MINUSMA mission said on Twitter that those who hold the leaders will have to answer for their actions.

The European Union and the African Union also condemned the arrests.

The detentions raised fears of a second coup as President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane lead an interim government that was installed after a putsch in August under the threat of regional sanctions.

Coup leaders and army officers wielded significant influence over the government, however, casting doubt on a pledge to hold elections by early next year.

Two senior officials, who declined to be named, told AFP that soldiers had taken Ndaw and Ouane to the Kati military camp on the outskirts of the capital Bamako.

Their detentions followed a sensitive government reshuffle on Monday afternoon, which was designed to respond to growing criticism of the interim government.