Mali’s ruling junta pushed through a political charter on Saturday that could lead to the appointment of a military officer as interim president.

But the coalition that led anti-government protests before last month’s coup raised objections against a military interim president.

The charter, ratified by participants in the talks, says the interim president can be a civilian or a soldier and will preside over a transitional period of 18 months before elections are held, said Moussa Camara, the spokesman for the talks.

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The interim president will be selected by electors chosen by the junta, Camara said in remarks at the end of three days of negotiations.

The M5-RFP coalition that led protests against President Ibrahim Boubcar Keita before the Aug. 18 coup has forcefully opposed the idea that a military officer could lead the transition.

So have Mali’s West African neighbours, who have also insisted on a transition of no more than one year. (Reuters/NAN)

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