Mutinous soldiers have seized power in Mali after storming the president palace and arresting some of the government ministers, a spokesman for the mutinous soldiers said Thursday.

In a televised speech, Amadou Konare announced the end of President Amadou Toumani Toure government, whose power would be handed over to the next one.

Institutions have been dissolved and the constitution suspended, Konare said, adding that the presidential election would be held when time is ripe.

A national curfew has also been imposed.

So far, there is no media report on the whereabouts of President Toure.

Malian soldiers occupied Malian national television ORTM in the capital on Wednesday and fired into the air to show their displeasure over treatment of a conflict in the north of the country.