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West African heads of state, who are meeting on Friday, are likely to tell the junta that overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta that a transition to democratic rule should only last 12 months, according to an internal report from regional mediators seen by the Reuters news agency.

The report by envoys from the West African group Ecowas says that President Keïta should appoint a civilian to head the transition, Reuters reports.

The Ecowas team, led by Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan, held talks earlier this week with the junta but there was no agreement.

The military leaders had initially talked about a transition period lasting three years.

Reuters also quotes the Ecowas report as saying that Mr Keïta stepped down voluntarily "for the peace and reconciliation of Mali".