MALI’S government has started seizing gold stocks of the Canadian mining company Barrick as part of a legal battle over the share of revenue owed to the west African state, according to a leaked letter, it was reported today.

The letter from chief executive officer Mark Bristow to the Malian mining minister says that Barrick is “awaiting official confirmation of the proper receipt by the Malian Solidarity Bank,” a government entity.

The seizure, valued at about $180 million (£144m), follows a warning letter to Barrick earlier this month from Mali’s senior investigating judge, Boubacar Moussa Diarra, saying three tons of gold would be seized.