Soldiers Seize Mali President Ibrahim Boubakar Keïta
Mali President Ibrahim Boubakar Keïta has been arrested by mutinying soldiers, a government spokesman has confirmed to the BBC.
Prime Minister Boubou Cissé has also been arrested, despite earlier appeals for “brotherly dialogue”.
The apparent coup attempt in the West African nation began with gunfire at a key military camp near the capital, Bamako, on Tuesday morning.
In the city young men set a government-owned building on fire.
It comes hours after disgruntled junior officers detained commanders and took control of the Kati camp, about 15km (nine miles) from Bamako.
The mutiny has been condemned by regional group Ecowas, the African Union and former colonial power France.
The unrest coincides with calls for more protests to demand that the president resign.
Mr Keita won a second term in elections in 2018, but there is widespread anger over corruption, the mismanagement of the economy and the worsening security situation with jihadist and communal violence on the increase.
It is not yet clear how many soldiers have taken part in the mutiny. Some reports say it was fuelled by a pay dispute.
The chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said in a tweet that he “emphatically condemns” the arrests of President Keïta and his prime minister.