<<Print>>

Three female soldiers from a group of 49 Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali on accusations of being mercenaries have been released, Malian and Togolese diplomatic sources say.

The 49 were arrested on 10 July after arriving at the airport in Bamako.

Abidjan said the soldiers were part of logistical support operations for the UN Mission in Mali (Minusma).

The Ivorian president immediately called for their release - as they had been "unjustly" arrested.

Mali accused them of being "mercenaries" who had come to destabilize the country, saying they neither had a mission order nor authorisation to be there.

The soldiers were charged in mid-August by the Malian judiciary for "attempting to undermine the external security of the State" and imprisoned.

Mediation is still underway to seek the release of the rest of the members of the group.