BRUSSELS: The EU on Tuesday condemned an "attempted coup" in Mali after soldiers mutinied and arrested the crisis-torn country's political leaders.

"The European Union condemns the attempted coup d'etat under way in Mali and rejects all unconstitutional change," the bloc's diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.

"This can in no way be a response to the profound socio-economic crisis which has been hitting Mali for some months."

The EU, which has operated a mission training the armed forces in Mali since 2013, joined the UN and regional bloc ECOWAS in calling for dialogue.

"A consensual outcome respecting constitutional principles, international law and human rights is the only way to avoid destabilising not only Mali but the whole region," Borrell said in his statement.