Mali mediator expects elections to strengthen Bamako authority

ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, mediator of the Mali crisis, on Monday appealed for support for elections so as to strengthen the power of the government in Bamako.

Compaore, on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States, made the remarks on the sidelines of the two-day African Union summit, which was officially opened on Sunday.

Burkina Faso has committed 650 troops to Mali under the auspices of the International Support Mission for Mali.

Compaore said he was still supportive of holding talks with the non-extremist groups such as the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad and Ansar Dine.

He said there was no need to shun talks with the groups whose main concern was poor governance and the unequal sharing of wealth in northern Mali.

"These were causes of war," the Burkina Faso president noted.

"We have never stopped contacting them," Compaore said, pointing out that inclusive inter-Malian political dialogue helps to stop hostilities, which are different from attacks by armed groups such as the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa and Al-Qaida-linked AQIM.

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