Mali opposition rejects deal to end crisis

The opposition in Mali has rejected a compromise deal proposed by West African leaders to end the political crisis in the country.

Presidents from the countries in the West African regional bloc Ecowas proposed a plan, which included resolving an election dispute by re-running polls for 31 MPs.

But the plan stopped short of the opposition group M5-RFP’s main demand – that President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta resign.

The country has been sliding into a political crisis for months.

Huge protests started after the Constitutional Court threw out 31 results from parliamentary elections in April, which benefited President Keïta’s party.

Tens of thousands of people have gone out on to the streets in a series of demonstrations – at least 11 protesters were killed earlier this month.