A Mali court has ruled that gold mines held by Canadian giant Barrick Gold in the west of the country be managed for six months by an appointee, effectively baring the company from operating one of the largest gold complexes in the world.

The ruling junta in Mali is tightening its hold on the gold industry as it moves to reclaim control from established foreign operators and boost local processing capacity through investment from Russia.

Canada's Barrick Mining had its Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex in Mali placed under state control by a court on Monday in a major escalation of a dispute over taxes and ownership. A former Malian health minister,