Leaders of the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday authorized the deployment of an African-led international force to flush out rebel groups from northern Mali in order to restore security in the West African country, a statement by the regional bloc said on Monday

The resolution was made at an extraordinary summit of the ECOWAS heads of state and government held in Abuja, Nigeria's capital city, requesting the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU) to endorse the concept of operations adopted by the session, together with the strategic concept for onward transmission to the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

"The summit reiterates its commitment to the commission to maintain the stand-by force in a high state of readiness for imminent deployment and urges member states to concretize their commitment to provide military and logistical contributions to the ECOWAS military efforts," the statement said.

While urging the UN Security Council to examine the concept with a view to authorize the deployment of the force in Mali in conformity with Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the west African bloc said this request must be granted with the Nov. 15 deadline stipulated by the UN Resolution 2071.

The statement commended the efforts of Mali in using military as well as diplomatic efforts at restoring constitutional order in the country, while explaining that it became essential for ECOWAS to play a leadership role in the deployment of the troops. "Such a role should cover the command and resource mobilization in close cooperation with the AU and the UN," it said.

Reiterating their preoccupation with the flagrant violation of human rights and humanitarian laws in the occupied territory as well as the humanitarian consequences that may result from the planned deployment, the ECOWAS leaders said the humanitarian angle has been taken into account in the strategic concept and the operation planning for the deployment.

Mali has been dealing with diverse security, economic, political and humanitarian challenges since January after a fighting between government forces and al-Qaida-linked rebels broke out in the northern part of the country.

The UN recently asked the AU and ECOWAS to produce a detailed plan for a possible military intervention in northern Mali.