The Malian Union of African Democratic Rally (UM RDA) party said on Tuesday that it was not opposed to a foreign intervention, given the "complexity of the occupation of Mali by terrorist groups that are linked to international terrorism."

However, the party's president Bocar Moussa Diarra who addressed a press conference in Bamako, affirmed that all external intervention should be subjected to two conditions which include the respect of Mali's sovereignty and the consultations with the security organs in the country.

Diarra insisted on the need to "use force against the rebel movements before the beginning of any negotiations."

According to him, "there will be need for negotiations between fellow Malian brothers who are committed to national unity, after the expulsion of the armed bandits, jihadists and other salafists who came from outside the country."

Speaking about the events surrounding the March 22 coup d'etat, the UM RDA president said that there's need "to safeguard the reasons why the coup d'etat happened and protect certain fundamental rights of the population."

"To achieve harmony among the many stakeholders so that they can support the transition organs, there's need to hold dialogue. The national debate should discuss about the creation of a national defence committee and define its role, its composition and its missions," he said.

He also proposed that Mali should transform its army into "a republican and patriotic army, an army which is professional and responsible."