 Now, Mali's interim government says the country will hold presidential and parliamentary elections in February next year. The Minister of Territorial Administration, Lieutenant Colonel Abdulai Maiga, told journalists in Bamako that the first round of voting will take place on February 27, or the second round of vote in March. The announcement of the date, according to the government, is a sign of its commitment to strictly uphold a pledge of an 18-month transition for returning to an elected civilian government. An electoral plan presented by the transitional authorities also showed that a referendum will be held on October 31 of this year and cancel elections on December 26.