It will be the first ballot since a coup in March 2012 ousted Mali's democratically elected president just months before he was due to step down at the end of his final term in office.

"The council of ministers has adopted a draft law convening the electoral college on July 28, 2013 for the election of the president of the republic, on the whole national territory and diplomatic and consular representations outside of Mali," said AFP.

According to the draft law, the campaign for president will open on Sunday, July 7 at midnight and close at midnight on July 26.

The draft law also said if no candidate wins an absolute majority, a runoff will be held on August 11./.

CPV