Mali's president names new prime minister

Mali's interim president, Dioncounda Traore, has named a new prime minister to replace Cheick Modibo Diarra, who quit under pressure from former coup leaders.

Diango Sissoko, a longtime civil servant, was appointed on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after Diarra announced his resignation on state television after being arrested as he tried to leave the country for France.

The former coup leaders are opposed to foreign military intervention to drive out Islamists occupying the northern half of the country while Diarra has called for UN backing of such a move.

21 coup, told France 24 television that Diarra's resignation was "not a new coup d'etat".

Mariko said Diarra was arrested as he tried to leave the country after "inciting trouble" and was put under house arrest.
The interim president said a new government would be formed by the end of the week.

The UN Security Council condemned Diarra's arrest and renewed a threat to impose sanctions against those hampering "constitutional order".

The Security Council said the action contravenes repeated UN calls for the Malian military to stop interfering in the west African nation's transition.

The 15-nation body stressed its "commitment to authorising as soon as possible the deployment of an African-led international support mission in Mali".

France is drawing up a resolution giving a mandate to an international force. But negotiations have been prolonged by US opposition to sending just an African-led force to Mali.

Diarra had been the interim prime minister since April when the army handed power back to civilians.mali

Cissoko told the AFP news agency that his priorities were to regain control of the north from Islamists and organise a general election.
"The priority is the recovery of the north and the organisation of elections.... I want to create a government of national unity," he said.