Mali's coup leaders said late Thursday they have released 22 political and military leaders from detention.

The arrests earlier this week drew international condemnation.

Meantime, the office of Senegal's president announced that ousted Malian president Amadou Toumani Toure and his family were flying Thursday to the Senegalese capital, Dakar.

Senegal's President Macky Sall told reporters Wednesday that Mr. Toure had been staying at the Senegalese embassy in the Malian capital, Bamako, after fleeing his residence during last month's coup.

Renegade soldiers seized power in the coup March 22, accusing Mr. Toure of failing to properly equip the army to handle a Tuareg rebellion in the north.

After the economic regional bloc known as ECOWAS imposed harsh sanctions against coup leaders, the junta agreed last week to form a civilian transitional government to organize new elections.

Mr. Toure formally resigned on April 8, allowing the new interim government to take power.