Mali’s former colonial power France has demanded the release of the interim president and prime minister, who were taken into custody by the military.

France continues to wield influence in Mali and has a military presence there as part of force fighting Islamist militants in the region.

“We are demanding the release of the authorities, whose security must be guaranteed, and the immediate resumption of the normal process of transition (towards democracy),” Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is quoted by Reuters as saying in parliament.

“If there is no return to a transition, we will take immediate measures to target those in the military who are hindering the transition,” he added.