UN considers ECOWAS role in Mali

The U.N. Security Council said it was ready to examine further a request by ECOWAS to intervene in the crisis in Mali. Military forces in March toppled the civilian government in Mali, saying they were frustrated with the inability to copy with rebels who've declared autonomy in northern Mali. Members of the Economic Community of West African States said they were preparing a stand-by force for deployment and sought approval to send troops into Mali under a Chapter VII resolution of the U.N. Security Council. The Security Council said it "took note" of the request for the authorization of the use of force to protect Mali's territorial integrity and to combat terrorism. "The members of the Security Council expressed their readiness to further examine the request of ECOWAS once additional information has been provided regarding the objectives, means and modalities of the envisaged deployment and other possible measures," a statement read. The U.N. refugee agency said more than 300,000 people were displaced by fighting and related political instability in the country. The agency warned that the "magnitude of the emergency" required an urgent response in order to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.