In Mali, when a plan was recently accomplished for a military intervention to regain control of the northern part from rebels, voices are heard either for or against talks on a peaceful solution.

In a press statement issued on Nov. 13, the Association of Northern Mali Residents (COREN) categorically rejected any idea of negotiating with armed groups occupying the northern parts, including Ansar Dine, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO).

COREN has blasted war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by rebel groups in northern Mali, saying it is "deeply concerned" by the diplomatic efforts being made by the mediator in the Malian crisis, Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, and by Algeria, whose objective is to "offer forgiveness to the terrorist groups."

COREN says it is illusory for one to think that he can dissociate Ansar Dine, MUJAO and MNLA from Al-Qaida's North African branch AQIM, because they are all terrorist groups.

A statement signed by COREN President Malick Alhousseini warns the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the UN that any diplomatic resolution aimed at forgiving the terrorists groups in northern Mali will not be accepted by the residents of that region.

It urged the international community to concretize the military intervention plan, while asking ECOWAS to keep an eye on Compaore's mediation because of his "favoritism" towards the three rebel groups in northern Mali.

Another opponent to negotiations is Madani Tall, the president of the Mali's Future Development Party of (ADM).

"Let's not be cheated, these negotiations will concretize the victory of MNLA and other Islamists. Malians should say No, No and No to any form of negotiations with the terrorist groups. Say No to their deception," Tall told a press conference held on Nov. 15.

However, the Malian government, while committed to the military option, has not ruled out dialogue.

Malian Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra has on several occasions reaffirmed the government's willingness to "negotiate with fellow citizens" who will renounce the idea of dividing the country and if they respect the secular nature of the state.

"If MNLA and Ansar Dine say that they are ready to stop violence, recognize the indivisible nature of the Republic of Mali as well as the secular nature of the state, we shall hold dialogue at that moment when they will become Malians," the prime minister said recently.

However, he categorically rejected the declaration by Ansar Dine of Iyad Ag Ghali that the group will not push for use of sharia (Islamic law) in Mali, except in Kidal, a region in northern Mali.

"Sharia will not be used even in a single centimeter square of the Malian territory, and Kidal is part of the Malian territory," he declared.

To demonstrate its support for negotiation, the Malian government recently set up a National Negotiation Committee.

Main supporters of negotiations to end the Malian crisis also include Aminata Dramane Traore, head of the Forum for Another Mali.

Speaking recently in the capital Bamako, Traore noted that the crisis had severely affected women and children, suggesting "negotiations will ensure that the country is not divided."

Rejecting the option of a foreign military intervention while insisting on the need to hold talks, Traore argued, "Even in history, France and Germany ended up making peace to end a crisis between them."

The AU has recently adopted the plan for military intervention drawn up by ECOWAS experts, pending the final approval by the UN Security Council.

Nothern Mali was seized by rebels in the aftermath of the March 22 military coup, sparking fears of looming threat by AQIM and drug and human traffickers in the Sahel region on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert.

The UN Security Council had previous asked ECOWAS to come up with a detailed plan for intervention, which involves thousands of troops mainly contributed by member states of the West African bloc to restore constitutional rule and territorial integrity in Mali, which was once considered a model of democracy in Africa.