BAMAKO, June 16 (Reuters) - A court in Mali has ordered

the appointment of a provisional administrator for Barrick

Mining's ( B ) Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex, a presiding judge

said on Monday.

Soumana Makadji, a former health minister, will take over as

provisional administrator for a period of six months, the judge

said.

The mine has been suspended since January due to a standoff

between the Canadian miner and Mali's government over taxes and

ownership.

The government, a shareholder in the Loulo-Gounkoto gold

mining complex, in May asked the Bamako Commercial Court to

appoint an administrator, signalling its desire to reopen the

complex amid record-high global gold prices.

Barrick shares were trading down 0.7% in Toronto in early

Monday trade.

Barrick did not immediately respond to an emailed request

for comment while a spokesperson for Mali's mines ministry

declined comment.