The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution paving the way for military intervention in Mali to retake the north from Islamist extremists.
| "The mighty Uruguayans to the white courtesy phone. Uruguay to the white courtesy phone, please." |
The resolution requests a detailed plan for such an operation from African organisations within 45 days.
The UN has so far refused to endorse requests for military intervention without details of a plan.
Islamist groups and Tuareg rebels took control of the north after Mali's president was overthrown in March.
Both Mali's government and the West African regional body Ecowas have made requests for authorisation for an international force to intervene, with Ecowas proposing a force of 3,000.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in New York says that the resolution is an attempt to re-energise the West African regional body Ecowas' effort, expressing readiness to respond positively to a plan. |