The African Union (AU) on Tuesday (November 13th) approved the Mali intervention plan proposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), AFP reported.

The AU Security and Peace Council endorsed a "harmonised concept of operations for the planned deployment of AFISMA, which is the African-led mission in support of Mali", AU Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra said in Addis Ababa.

Lamamra said he expected the United Nations to pass a resolution approving the mission before the end of the year.

In related news, the UN representative in West Africa met in Ouagadougou with representatives of Ansar al-Din and the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), Tout sur l'Algerie reported.

Ansar al-Din representative Mohamed Ag Aharib said his group had assured UN envoy Said Djinnit of its readiness to engage in talks. MNLA representative Ibrahim Ag Mohamed Assaleh also confirmed his secular Touareg rebel group was "completely open to dialogue".