The National Committee for Redressment of Democracy and Restoration of the State (CNRDRE), the military junta in Mali, arrested several general officers and political personalities between Monday night and Tuesday morning, well placed sources in Bamako have said.

At the moment, CNRDRE has not revealed the motive behind these arrests.

The arrested include ex-defense minister general Sadio Gassama, ex-prime minister Modibo Sidibe, current director general of the national police Mahamadou Diagouraga and the ex-chief of general staff during the regime of Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT), Hamidou Sissoko.

Also arrested was Soumaila Cissem, chairman of the Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD).