The head of Mali's junta announced on Sunday the restoration of the constitution in the country, according to a statement released by the junta.

Junta leader Amadou Sanogo pledged to re-establish, from Sunday, the country's constitution of Feb. 25 of 1992 and the state institutions of the republic, according to the statement issued in Mali's capital city Bamako.

Sanogo also said the junta agreed to negotiate with local political forces over establishing a transition body aimed at organizing peaceful, free, open and democratic elections in which the junta would not take part.

The declaration came after the junta was under great pressure from international communities that condemned the unconstitutional change of government and urged hand-over of power and restoration of constitutional order.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also threatened with imposition of political and economic sanctions on officials of the National Committee for the Redressment of Democracy and Restoration of the State (CNRDRE, junta) if the junta does not start handing over power before April 2.

The junta overthrew President Amadou Toumani Toure's government on March 22 in coup by disgruntled soldiers who accused the government of poorly handling the Tuareg rebels in northern Mali.