In a statement the March 22 People's Movement, a coalition that supports the putschists, said coup leader Captain Amadou Sanogo and his junta must "stand firm and totally reject diktats by the French and Western imperialists".

It regretted "concessions" made by the junta, in a reference to a return to the constitutional order promised by Sanogo on Sunday.

Sanogo intends to remain in power during a transitional period until the election of a successor to ousted president Amadou Toumani Toure.

The MP22 is led by the African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence party, the only opposition movement in the parliament which the coup leaders dissolved on March 22 but restored 10 days later.

The coalition said a return to the constitutional order, as called for by the international community, "is a step back that could create unfavourable conditions for the Mali people" as democracy under the ousted president existed "only in name and was window-dressing".

The coalition also slammed sanctions imposed by west African countries which on Monday slapped a diplomatic, economic and financial embargo on the country.

There is no legal basis, on an African or international level, for the "total embargo by neighbouring countries", members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said the statement.

The MP22 also called for "immediate national resistance" and said the Malian people had a right to self-determination, free of the "imperialist constraints" imposed by the west African regional organisation.

A statement from the office of President Ernest Koroma said the weapons imported in January were "part of routine procurement by the police and not in response to any overt threat to peace and security".

Government said that in response to the concerns raised about the shipment the weapons had been transferred to the military "in the presence of foreign diplomats".

"The arms deployed to the national army will be deployed in upcoming support operations to the African Union and the UN."

On March 22, UN envoy to Sierra Leone, Michael von der Schulenburg, told the UN Security Council the reported arms shipment in January was "of great concern" in the country still recovering from a 1991-2002 civil war.

"Sierra Leone is under no arms embargo. However given Sierra Leone's progress in establishing peace and security throughout the country and its relatively low crime rate, it is not clear why the police would need such weapons," the envoy said.

He quoted a leaked shipping bill as indicating that the arms and ammunition included "machine guns and rocket launchers" but the authorities have denied this claim.

The statement from the Sierra Leone government confirmed that the weapons were ordered in December 2009 for the paramilitary Operation Support Division (OSD) of the Sierra Leone Police "to meet part of its requirements".

Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister Joseph Dauda told AFP: "It was a logical and natural thing for any country to equip its armed forces. We cannot wait until there's another war or threat to our national security before we arm ourselves. We have to beef up our security forces before any attack on our sovereignty."

After the civil war ended a decade ago, Sierra Leone is bracing for a verdict on April 26 by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges against former Liberian leader Charles Taylor for his role in Sierre Leone's conflict.

And political tensions have risen in the country in the lead-up to a November 17 presidential election, with some clashes between supporters of rival parties in recent months.