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The West African regional bloc Ecowas has "hinted" that sanctions against Mali "could soon be lifted", a tweet from the office of Mali's interim president says.

Ecowas imposed the punitive measures after the military overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in August.

It had demanded the resumption of civilian rule, but despite a civilian president, Bah Ndaw, and prime minister, Moctar Ouane, being appointed, the sanctions are still in place.

Earlier this week, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari said there were still some "grey areas" that needed to be worked out before relations could return to normal.

For instance, Mali's new vice-president is the former junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita, and Ecowas wants to make sure that he cannot become president.

Mr Ndaw is a former military officer and defence minister.