Mali prime minister arrested as he tries to leave country

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By ReutersBAMAKO - Malian soldiers  arrested Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra late on Monday, accusing him of  blocking efforts to stabilize a nation divided by a coup in the capital and the  Islamist takeover of the desert north.

Follow @NBCNewsWorld "He was arrested ... as he tried  to leave for France," said Bakary Mariko, a spokesman for the group of soldiers  who seized power in a March coup. The group remains powerful despite officially  handing power back to civilians earlier this year.

Diarra's arrest was  confirmed by a diplomat in Mali.

The move will complicate efforts to  stabilize the West African nation, where soldiers and politicians remain divided  since the coup in March and where the north of the country is occupied by al  Qaeda-linked Islamist fighters.




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