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West African Countries May Lift Mali Sanctions After Interim President Sworn
in Friday

VOA News

   The leader of a delegationrepresenting ablocof West African countries
   is hoping that crippling sanctions against Mali will be lifted
   following Friday's inauguration of an interim president a monthafter
   amilitary coup.

   Nigeria's former president,GoodluckJonathan, who is the envoy for the
   15-nation Economic Community of West African States, orECOWAS,praised
   thejunta's leadershipon his arrival in Mali Wednesday.

   Jonathan told reporters, the soldiers who have taken power are doing a
   job in line with what the ECOWAS leaders wanted.

   Jonathan stopped short of giving an ECOWAS endorsement toColonel
   BahNdaw, the former defense minister wholeadsthe junta that seized
   power after deposing PresidentBoubacarIbrahim Keita.
   ColonelAssimiGoitais set to becomeMali'snext vice president.

   Jonathan said, Mali doesn't need sanctionswhich arenot beneficial for
   the region and the rest of the world.

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