France 'ready to act over Mali'

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.

The Malian army said on Friday that French troops, as well as soldiers from Nigeria and Senegal, were already in Mali. However, speaking at a press conference, the army official refused to give details of their activities.

Residents of the strategic central town of Mopti told the BBC they had seen French troops helping Malian forces prepare for a counter-offensive against the Islamists in nearby Konna.

France was previously believed to have about 100 elite troops in the region. It also has a military base in Chad.