Two armed groups in northern Mali are joining forces to create a governing body, the Transitional Council for the Islamic State of Azawad, for the newly independent state.

Tuareg fighters and the al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine say they will jointly rule their territory.

The UN says more than 300,000 have been displaced by the crisis in Mali.

Mereana Hond reports, and Nick Clark interviews Abdel Fatau Musah, director of political affairs for ECOWAS.