Soldiers seize Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta
Soldiers in Mali have detained the country’s president, as well as the prime minister and other top officials in an apparent coup attempt.
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and PM Boubou Cissé are being held at a military camp near the capital Bamako.
Earlier, the mutinying soldiers took control of the Kati camp.
There has been anger among troops about pay and over a continuing conflict with jihadists – as well as widespread discontent with President Keïta.
Tuesday’s mutiny and arrests have sparked international condemnation.
The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), a regional bloc that has been mediating talks between President Keïta and opposition groups, has called for the immediate release of all officials.
In a statement, it also said its 15 member states had agreed to close their borders with Mali, suspend all financial flows to the country, and eject Mali from all of Ecowas’ decision-making bodies.What do we know about the mutiny?
It was led by Col Malick Diaw – deputy head of the Kati camp – and another commander, Gen Sadio Camara, BBC Afrique’s Abdoul Ba in Bamako reports.
After taking over the camp, about 15km (nine miles) from Bamako, the mutineers marched on the capital, where they were cheered by crowds who had gathered to demand President Keïtas’s resignation.
In the afternoon they stormed his residence and arrested the president and his prime minister – who were both there.
The president’s son, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the foreign and finance ministers were reported to be among the other officials detained.
The number soldiers taking part in the mutiny is unclear – as are their demands. Some reports say it was fuelled by a dispute over army pay.
Kati camp was also the focus of a mutiny in 2012 by soldiers angry at the inability of the senior commanders to stop jihadists and Tuareg rebels taking control of northern Mali.
Footage from AFP news agency showed a building owned by the justice ministry in Bamako ablaze on Tuesday.
