French air power helped the Malian army to retake the central town of Konna from the Islamists on Friday and President Francois Hollande said Saturday that the rebels had suffered heavy losses, estimated at 100 of their fighters.
AU urges Security Council to authorise the deployment of an international force in Mali
The military plan discussed at the meeting in Abuja on Friday would eventually be sent for approval at the United Nations security council
Algeria shares a long border with Mali, where extremists and rebel groups took over large parts of the north after a coup in March
UN approval sought for troop deployment
