BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A Mali official says the head of Mali's parliament, who fled to neighboring Burkina Faso after last month's coup, is returning to Mali to assume power and mark the country's return to constitutional rule.
Under intense pressure from the nations neighboring Mali, the junior officer who seized power 17 days ago agreed to return the nation to civilian rule. Capt. Amadou Haya Sanogo signed an accord Friday that makes the head of the assembly the head of state during a transitional period leading to new elections, as per an article in Mali's constitution.
The head of parliament's chief of staff, Issa Togo, said that Dioncounda Traore is due to land in Bamako, Mali on Saturday.
A local official said a special jet on Saturday was idling on the tarmac in Burkina Faso to fly Traore back to Mali. The official could not be named because he were not permitted to speak to the press.
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