5 Mali junta leaders face EU sanctions over delayed democratic polls

According to the report, the mooted sanctions are related to failure of the junta to organize elections this month as per an earlier roadmap.

The sanctions will impose travel bans and asset freezes on the yet-to-be-named officers.

The measures, which have political support of all 27 EU governments and should take effect later this month, follow a raft of restrictions against Mali by the ECOWAS grouping of West African states that has condemned the transitional military government's attempts to extend its rule, the Reuters report noted.

The diplomats said they were junta officials also targeted by ECOWAS. Mali's foreign and defence ministers will not be targeted in order to keep diplomatic channels open, the diplomats said, it added.

Mali earlier this week sacked the French ambassador over disrespectful comments by the Foreign Minister who is reported to have described the junta as 'illegitimate.'

The development marks an escalation in tensions between Bamako and Paris.

Mali has experienced two coups in the space of a year bringing to power the Col. Assimi Goita-led junta that has promised to hold elections latest by 2025, a timeline rejected by regional bloc, ECOWAS.