Washington, Rabi'I 3, 1434, Jan 15, 2013, SPA - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is “closely following” the situation in Mali. The Secretary General's office said in a statement that the U.N. chief has spoken with Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, who is the head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Ouattara briefed Ban Ki-moon on plans by ECOWAS member states to deploy forces to push back the rebels. A U.N. Security Council resolution in December authorized the deployment of ECOWAS troops to Mali. The Secretary General also spoke with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius who briefed him “on the ongoing French military operations in support of Mali’s urgent request,” the statement said. Mali President Dioncounda Traore sent a letter to his French counterpart last week demanding assistance from France. “Preparations are also continuing for the deployment soon of a U.N. multi-disciplinary team to Bamako to carry forward the U.N.’s support requested by the Malian authorities, including on both the political and security process,” the U.N. statement said. The U.N. Security Council met behind closed doors Monday afternoon to discuss the situation in Mali. Senegal, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria have all promised to send troops to Mali, while Britain, Germany, and the United States are providing logistical support to the French operation. --SPA 11:54 LOCAL TIME 08:54 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1068852