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After Summit, Mali's Opposition Insists on President's Departure

Nicolas Pinault

   PARIS - Opposition leaders in Mali are rejecting a plan by ECOWAS, a
   grouping of West African governments, to end the country's spiraling
   crisis, and are insisting that Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita
   resign. This announcement came as West African leaders on Monday called
   for the creation of a unity government in Mali and a fresh vote after
   disputed elections, but warned of sanctions against those opposing
   efforts to end the crisis.

   In a statement issued after a video conference, heads of the 15-nation
   regional bloc ECOWAS stood by Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita
   but called for a unity government to be "established rapidly" and urged
   the opposition to join it.

   Late Monday, Mali's presidency tasked a short cabinet of six ministers
   with negotiating with the parties involved to form a broader unity
   government

.