Audio By Carbonatix
UN chief António Guterres has demanded the immediate release of Mali's President Bah Ndaw and PM Moctar Ouane, who have been detained by soldiers.
They were driven by soldiers to a military camp near the capital, Bamako.
The two men have been leading an interim government which took power after a military coup last August.
They were detained just hours after a government reshuffle in which two army officers who took part in the coup were replaced.
Late on Monday, Mr Ouane told AFP in a phone call that soldiers "came to get him". The news agency said the line was then cut.
Defence Minister Souleymane Doucouré has also reportedly been detained.
The African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), the EU and the US have also condemned the arrests, saying Mali's top politicians must be released without any preconditions.
What has triggered the latest crisis?
Ibrahim Boubaca Keïta was ousted as president last year following weeks of anti-government protests over rising insecurity, alleged corruption and a failing economy.
His removal was generally celebrated - but the slow pace of change over the last nine months has been causing tensions.
An ongoing strike by the main union is in its second week and threatens to cripple the economy.
The interim government - overseeing the 18-month transition - agreed to appoint a new broader-based cabinet in the face of these problems and the threat of renewed protests.
Col Sadio Camara and Col Modibo Kone, who served as ministers of defence and security respectively, were dropped.
The opposition group behind the protests last year, M5 RFP, is also infuriated that it did not get rewarded with any ministerial positions.
Plus public confidence is waning over the army leaders' ability to tackle the Islamist insurgency that has spilled into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.
A previous coup in 2012 led to militant Islamists exploiting the chaos and seizing the north of the country.
French troops helped regain territory, but attacks continue as the insurgents capitalise on the persistent political instability in the region.
What happens next?
Discussions are ongoing at the Kati military camp, where the president and prime minister are being held.
The talks have also involved members of the M5 RFP. The group has been critical of the prime minister, so may be angling to replace him, reports BBC World Service Africa editor Will Ross.
A delegation from Ecowas, which played a key role in setting up the transitional government, is also due to visit Bamako.
Latest Stories
-
Imprisonment should be rehabilitative, not punitive – Ghana Prisons boss at UNGA
20 minutes -
Ga Adangbe traditional priests petition Mahama over McDan aviation licence revocation
31 minutes -
Anti-LGBTQ Bill: NDC’s arrogance is worrying – Hassan Tampuli
42 minutes -
Let’s give OSP time to mature, not to scrap it – Hassan Tampuli
45 minutes -
Nigeria convicts 386 Islamist militants in mass trials
51 minutes -
Djibouti president wins election with 97.8% of vote, state media says
55 minutes -
We don’t have mandate to deduct tax from rent allowance of security services personnel – Interior Ministry clarifies
1 hour -
Ablakwa receives Presidential Special Envoy on Reparations to advance global agenda
1 hour -
Christina Koch becomes first woman to travel around the moon on Artemis II
2 hours -
Epstein survivors’ calls to meet King Charles and Queen harder to ignore as US visit approaches
2 hours -
UN Secretary-General names Ghana’s Anita Kiki Gbeho as South Sudan envoy
2 hours -
Mali withdraws recognition of Sahrawi Republic, backs Morocco’s autonomy plan
2 hours -
Gov’t distributes over 8,500 laptops to One Million Coders project
2 hours -
Julius Debrah, ‘man to beat’ as NDC’s James Agbey dismisses Musah Dankwah’s polls
2 hours -
GPRTU in Savannah Region to protest alleged eviction in Damongo
2 hours