The West African regional bloc Ecowas has imposed sanctions against Mali's transitional leaders and their families.

The sanctions range from travel bans to a freeze of their financial assets.

It follows their failure to adhere to the timetable of returning the country to constitutional rule by February next year.

Ecowas said that the Malian authorities had informed them of their inability to meet the transition deadline of holding elections.

The regional grouping had lifted economic sanctions imposed on the country following the coup last year after the military junta promised an 18-month transition process.

Ecowas will be considering further sanctions next month if there's still been no progress towards elections in Mali, it said.

Mali has witnessed two coups since last year and is in the grip of a jihadist insurgency.