African Union Asks UN for Immediate Action on Mali

DAKAR, Senegal - The president of the African Union has written a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, asking for an immediate military intervention in Mali.

Yayi Boni, the president of Benin who is also the rotating head of the African Union, said that any reticence will be interpreted as a sign of weakness by the al-Qaida-linked fighters currently controlling northern Mali.

In a report circulated to the Security Council, Ban said Wednesday that the plan put forward by the AU for a military intervention "needs to be developed further" because fundamental questions on how the force will be led, trained and equipped remain unanswered.

Boni's open letter stresses that Africa is counting on the U.N. to give the rebels an ultimatum. And to make clear the need for a military intervention.