The United Front for the Protection of Democracy and the Republic (FDR) announced on Wednesday its refusal to participate in the national convention initiated initially scheduled on Thursday by the junta which, however, decided to postpone the meeting.

The FDR, consisting of over 50 political parties and civil societies, said in a statement that the decision was made because "the holding of the convention is contrary to and incompatible with the return to constitutional order."

The FDR called on political parties and civil societies and citizens to be vigilant and mobilize to find a honorable solution to the crisis through the "constitutional law."

The junta announced on Tuesday that the national convention would start on April 5 when participants of all the political parties and actors of society in Mali would decide what is the best for the country in a "consensual and democratic" manner.

However, the junta said in a statement on Wednesday that it decided to postpone the convention after consultation among the majority of parties at a meeting on Wednesday at Kati, because parties want a better preparation of the meeting. The statement did not propose a new date for the convention.