Mali expels ECOWAS envoy amid pressure over polls

Mali has been under pressure to hold democratic elections in February

Mali has expelled the Ecowas regional bloc's representative in the country as pressure mounts on it to provide a definitive timeline on its transition to civilian rule.

Hamodou Boly was summoned by the foreign affairs ministry and notified of the government's decision "declaring him 'persona non grata' in view of his actions [that are] incompatible with his status", a statement on state-run ORTM TV said.

Mali has been at loggerheads with the regional body over demands to hold elections in February.

The West African nation was suspended from Ecowas in May after the interim leader, Col Assimi Goïta,carried out a second coup in less than a year.

Prime Minister Choguel Maïga has indicated that the election could be delayed, citing concerns over credibility.

There is concern that the Malian army's preoccupation with the political crisis continues to jeopardise its response to the security crisis that has plagued its northern and central regions.

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