Mali government says it will stick with July 28 date for long-awaited elections

BAMAKO, Mali – Despite numerous technical glitches, Mali's Minister of Territorial Administration is reassuring the nation that the July 28 presidential election will proceed as planned.

Moussa Coulibaly told reporters Tuesday he had "never had any doubt regarding the July 28 date."

Coulibaly also stressed it is his ministry, and not the country's National Independent Electoral Commission, that has final say over the poll.

Last week, the head of the commission said he doubted the election could take place in July, because voter cards had not yet been distributed. The cards, he said, were also faulty because they were missing the numerical IDs of the polling stations where voters are expected to cast their ballots.

The election will be the first since Mali was plunged into crisis following last year's coup.