US Raises Concerns Over Mali's Arrest of Editor The United States ambassador to Mali says she has concerns about press freedom in the West African nation after authorities arrested a newspaper editor. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard told journalists on a telephone conference call Thursday that she and the U.S. had "great concern" about the arrest of Boukary Daou, the editor-in-chief of The Republican newspaper. Leonard said: "There's a vital role for media and we urge the utmost protection of free expression and rights under the law." Daou was detained by agents from Mali's intelligence service on March 6. His arrest came soon after his newspaper published a letter from an army officer denouncing coup leader Capt. Amadou Haya Sanogo's recently-decreed salary of $8,000 per month, a very high salary in the impoverished country.