The African Union (AU) approved a plan produced recently by West African countries for a military intervention in northern Mali.

The African Union (AU) approved a plan produced recently by West African countries for a military intervention in northern Mali, the pan-African bloc disclosed on Tuesday.

The AU Peace and Security Council gave the approval after the 15-member West African grouping ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) agreed on Sunday to contribute a 3,300-strong force to join Mali's 5,000 troops in the planned intervention.

The AU approval is necessary for the final endorsement by the United Nations late this month or next to give the green light to the deployment.

On Oct. 12, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution in which ECOWAS was asked to work out a detailed plan for military intervention in northern Mali with 45 days.

The ECOWAS-led operation aims to regain control of Mali's desert north after rebels including Al-Qaida-linked groups took the area in the aftermath of the March 22 military coup.