DAKAR, Senegal: A United Nations human rights expert on Wednesday urged Malis junta to release former government officials they have held since a coup detat on Aug. 18.
The call by Alioune Tine, U.N. independent expert on human rights in Mali, came as a mediator for the West African regional economic bloc arrived in the country to discuss a transition government named earlier this week and that will be installed Friday.
Former defense minister and retired Col. Maj. Bah NDaw will be inducted as the transitional president while the head of the junta, Col. Assimi Goita, will be the transitional vice president.
The junta, which calls itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, deposed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August, detaining him, the prime minister and other government officials. Keita, who…