France has urged rapid foreign military intervention in Mali after the country's prime minister, Cheikh Modibo Diarra, was arrested and ordered to resign. Mali's president is expected to name a new prime minister later Tuesday.

Diarra addressed the nation on television hours after soldiers loyal to Capt. Amadou Haya Sanogo, who led a recent coup, arrested him. The soldiers ordered Diarra to resign because he "doesn't get along" with Sanogo, a spokesman for the military junta told AP.

“Our country, Mali, today passes through the most difficult period in its history. At such moments of crisis, men and women who are concerned about the future of our nation want a calm situation. This is why I, Cheick Modibo Diarra, and all my government have resigned today,” Diarra said.

Those responsible for Diarra's detention insist the move is not a new coup, and that President Dioncounda Traoré will use his constitutional powers to appoint a new prime minister.

“Cheick Modibo Diarra had two main responsibilities. The first was to liberate northern Mali and the second was to organise free and transparent elections. But one must recognise today that since his appointment, Mr. Diarra has not acted to fulfill his mission. Everything he has done has been for the benefit of his own personal agenda,” junta spokesperson Bacary Mariko told AFP. 

Diarra was getting ready to leave the country for Paris. It's unclear if the trip to France was planned, or if Diarra was attempting to evade capture. 

Despite the events, planning for a European Union military training mission aimed at ousting Islamist insurgents who has seized northern Mali will proceed, a spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told AP. EU foreign ministers approved the training mission on Monday.

Washington officials have also claimed that the US Defense Department is preparing a military operation in Mali. 

Mali entered into chaos in March, when soldiers overthrew the president, enabling Tuareg rebels to seize two-thirds of the country. Islamist militias hijacked the revolt and currently control northern Mali. Fears are rising that the area could become a terrorist base.

According to the United Nations, almost 350,000 Malians have fled their homes.

"Protection concerns are growing, with widespread reports of serious human rights violations from sexual violence and child recruitment to stoning and mutilations of criminal suspects," UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, told the UN Security Council.

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