Ousted leaders out of military custody

BAMAKO: Mali’s civilian leaders, who were ousted in a military takeover this week, have been freed from military custody, a junta aide said, following a global outcry and fresh threats of sanctions from the West African nation’s allies.

The former interim president Bah Ndaw and prime minister Moctar Ouane returned home early yesterday morning, ending three days of detention after soldiers arrested them in the country’s second coup d’etat in nine months.

Ndaw and Ouane resigned on Wednesday while still in detention at an army base just north of the city – a step that analysts described as crucial to the men securing their freedom.