UN Officials In Mali To Urge Democratic Transition

A UN Security Council delegation is in Mali to meet politicians, members of civil society and military leaders at a time when there are fears that the officers who carried out a coup in August want to delay a return to civilian rule.<br />The West African regional grouping Ecowas is insisting that the transitional President, Colonel Assimi Goita, hands over power after elections next February.<br />The visiting delegation - which includes the ambassadors to the UN from Kenya, France, Niger and the US - is also assessing the security situation.<br />Mali has seen frequent jihadist attacks as well as inter-ethnic violence in the north and the centre of the country.