Two days after the military arrested Mali’s interim president and prime minister, they have now tendered their resignation on Wednesday, an aide to the vice president said.

The transitional president of Mali, Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane have resigned after being arrested in an apparent second military coup in nine months.

The military’s actions have jeopardised Mali’s return to democracy following a coup last August and drawn condemnation from international powers.

“The president and his prime minister have resigned. Negotiations are ongoing for their liberation and the formation of a new government,” said Baba Cisse, an aide to Goita, in comments sent to Reuters by the military.

The resignations came during a visit by a delegation from the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), which is pressing to resolve the stand-off.

Ndaw who was appointed with the responsibility of returning the country to civilian rule after a coup last August, had been held since Monday and resigned “before the mediator”, said Baba Cisse, special advisor to junta boss Assimi Goita, adding that negotiations were under way for their release and the formation of a new government.