Hollande: France Ready to Stop Islamist Militants in Mali

But only with authorization from the U.N.

France is ready to stop Islamist militants who control northern Mali if they continue their offensive, French President Francois Hollande has said.

However, Mr Hollande said France would only act under UN authorisation.

He was responding to a plea by Malian President Dioncounda Traore for help to counter a renewed rebel offensive.

Earlier, an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council called for the rapid deployment of an African-led international force to Mali.