Mali embassy staff withdrawn

STAFF are being withdrawn from the British Embassy in Mali in the wake of a military coup.

The Foreign Office said the temporary measure would limit the UK’s ability to help Britons who chose to stay in the Saharan state against official advice.

A spokesman said: “Given the unstable and unpredictable situation in Mali and the continuing lack of constitutional rule, the UK has decided to temporarily withdraw its staff from its embassy in Bamako.

“Consular assistance will continue to be provided to British nationals from our embassy in Dakar [in neighbouring Senegal].”