Mali's transitional President Dioncounda Traore and Prime Minister (PM) Cheick Modibo Diarra support the formation of a government of national unity, a source from the country's External Affairs and African Integration ministry has said.

"The transition president and prime minister have agreed to the formation of this government which will ensure that all Malian nationals are involved in the conduct of the transition," the official from the ministry said.

The official added Malian authorities supported the decisions of the meeting of the ECOWAS Contact Group on Mali which was held in Ouagadougou.

The same official pointed out "it was important to strengthen the Malian army so that it can be able to carry out its mission which is to ensure the national territorial integrity."

The same sentiments were expressed on the same day by the External Affairs and African Integration Minister Madam Traore Rokiatou Guikine who was in Paris.

The minister was in Paris to brief president Traore about the decisions that were taken over the weekend in Ouagadougou during the meeting of the Contact Group on Mali of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).