Italy's deputy foreign minister Emanuela Del Re on Wednesday said she hoped the appoint of former defence minister Bah Ndaw as Mali's president and ex-diplomat Moctar Ouane as its premier marked the start of a transition back to democracy in Mali after the August military coup.
"Mali is a very important country for Italy," Del Re tweeted.
"I hope these are the first steps of the country's transition towards a complete return to constitutionality and democracy....in this delicate phase we must bolster our support to the people of Mali and meet their needs."
But Del Re warned that Mali must take "further measures as demanded by (the 15-nation West African regional bloc) ECOWAS and the international community."
Retired colonel and former defence minister Bah Ndaw vows to hand over power within 18 months and organise national elections.
August's ousting of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita followed weeks of mass protests sparked by frustrations over a deadly eight-year conflict with Islamist insurgents, perceived corruption and an economic slump in Mali.
