ADDIS ABABA - The African Union (AU) approved a plan produced recently by West African countries for a military intervention in northern Mali, the pan-African bloc disclosed on Tuesday.

The AU Peace and Security Council gave the approval after the 15-member West African grouping ECOWAS agreed on Sunday to contribute a 3,300-strong force to join Mali's 5,000 troops in the planned intervention.

The AU approval is necessary for the final endorsement by the United Nations late this month or next to give the green light to the deployment.

On Oct 12, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution in which ECOWAS was asked to work out a detailed plan for military intervention in northern Mali with 45 days.

The ECOWAS-led operation aims to regain control of Mali's north desert after rebels including Al-Qaida-linked groups took the area in the aftermath of the March 22 military coup.