Representatives of the West African regional grouping, Ecowas, led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, are in Mali and have met President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and an influential Imam in the country.
They are expected to meet separately with opposition leaders and civil society organisations on Thursday.
Mr Jonathan has expressed optimism that his mission would yield positive results. He said they are in Mali with a message of peace and progress.
The Malian opposition alliance, the June 5 Movement, has called off protests scheduled for Friday and said it will instead hold memorial services for victims killed during last week’s demonstrations.
Three days of clashes with security forces left 11 dead and 158 injured.
President Keïta is facing what analysts say is his biggest political challenge since coming to power in 2013.
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Opposition politicians and protesters want him to step down, saying his government has failed to address long-running violence by militants linked to al-Qaeda.
They have also pointed to the country economic crisis and the disputed legislative elections held in March as grounds for the president’s resignation.
They have rejected concessions by the government including formation of a unity government and dissolution of the country’s constitutional court which overturned the election results.
BBC
