WASHINGTON, March 28 (UPI) -- Malian military officers who seized power in a coup should step aside in favor of elected officials to secure U.S. aid, a U.S. official said.
Victoria Nuland, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, said it wasn't too late to "undo" the military coup in Mali.
Military officers stormed the presidential palace last week, announcing they overthrew what they called Amadou Toumani Toure's "incompetent government." The coup came weeks before presidential elections. Toure said he wouldn't seek a third term in office.
Peter Balerin, U.S. deputy ambassador to Mali, told Voice of America he spoke with coup leader Capt. Amadou Sango and warned him that U.S. support for Mali's military depended on civilian rule in the West African country.
"So if he wants the soldiers to be better trained and better equipped, he must absolutely cede power so that the U.S., France, and other partners could continue their programs supplying training and equipment," Balerin said.
Members of the Economic Community of West African States met for an emergency meeting in Ivory Coast this week to discuss the coup in Mali.
Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, serving as the rotating president of ECOWAS, is among the heads of African nations expected to travel to the country to negotiation a return of the country's elected leaders.
ECOWAS leaders had said "all options" are on the table to stave off further crisis in Mali.
