The equivalent of Michael Moore saying he hates morbidly obese people.

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — An Islamist group carrying out public executions and amputations in northern Mali said Tuesday that it rejects “all forms of extremism and terrorism” and called upon other armed organizations controlling the region, including a branch of al-Qaida, to engage in political talks with the government.

The turnabout was announced by a representative of an Ansar Dine delegation that has been holding talks for the last several days with mediators in the capital of neighboring Burkina Faso.

The meetings in Burkina Faso appear to be part of a new, regional attempt to set up negotiations to resolve the Mali crisis ahead of a possible military intervention that is expected to be led by African forces with logistical backing from the European Union and the United States. France is heading the international effort to plan the military campaign to end the occupation by Ansar Dine and other Islamists in Mali’s north.

It was not immediately clear how Ansar Dine’s declaration would affect its imposition of strict Islamic law in the northern Mali territory under its control. Nor was it clear whether the delegation in Ouagadougou represents all elements within Ansar Dine, which has links to the al-Qaida terror network.