April elections for Mali

The president of Mali says the country's presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in April.

In his New Year address to the nation, President Alph Oumar Konare denounced corruption and called on politicians to ensure the elections were peaceful and transparent.

He also announced the government's programme for the year, including the promise of work on electoral reform, decentralisation and the development of the justice, health and education departments.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service