KAMPALA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Mali has been suspended from the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) following a coup that toppled President Amadou Toumani Toure on March 22.

Lulume Bayinga, spokesperson of the on-going six-day IPU conference in Uganda said that the West African country was suspended from the over 150 member state body.

"Mali has been suspended by the Executive Committee of the IPU and they will not attend this assembly. In case they come, the decision makers at the IPU will communicate to them about their suspension," he said.

He said that apart from the suspension, the over 2,000 delegates that are attending the IPU summit here will discuss the situation in the country.

The Africa Union, a continental body bringing together 54 African countries was the first to suspend the West African country after the coup.

The IPU conference which starts on Saturday will discuss the political, economic and social situation in the world under the theme; "Parliaments and people: bridging the gap".