Al Qarra - Ecowas defense chiefs met in Bamako this Tuesday. The objective: to approve and accelerate the deployment of African troops, mandated by the UN resolution, adding to the 2,500 French soldiers already on the ground.

Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Guinea have all agreed to send troops to Mali.

Their immediate mission: to help stop the advance of the rebels, while preparations continue for a more comprehensive plan to retake the north of the country.

The French ambassador to the UN, Gerard Araud, on Monday called for an acceleration in the deployment of African forces to support the Malian army.