The soldiers who mounted a recent coup in Mali were told by neighbouring countries Friday that they had 72 hours to hand over power to a civilian government, dpa cited media reports as saying. Failure to adhere to the constitution would result in "diplomatic, economic and financial sanction," according to the ultimatum from the Economic Community of West African States, which this week suspended Mali's membership because of the coup. That would give the soldiers until Monday to cede power, reported Radio France. President Amadou Toumani Toure was ejected from power last week after a group of soldiers initiated the coup, arguing that Toure's government had been ineffective in tamping down a Tuareg rebellion in the north. Toure had been due to step down next month, as his term was coming to a close and elections were already scheduled.
