ruling junta

  Rueters reports that Mali's ruling junta appointed spokesperson Abdoulaye Maiga as prime minister on Thursday, a day after dismissing Choguel Maiga, who had criticized the administration. Choguel Maiga had condemned the junta's failure to organize elections within the promised 24-month transition back to democracy, angering the ruling generals. The move came after his public criticism, as reported by state television ORTM and sources close to Maiga.