UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council said Friday it will consider a request from West African countries for military intervention in Mali to root out Al-Qaeda-linked Islamists who have seized control of the country’s northern region.

The Economic Community of West African States, known as ECOWAS, has planned the force for months but had been told by the Security Council that it had to wait for a formal request from Mali’s interim government before submitting a proposal. Mali’s request — initially opposed by the leaders of a March coup who retain considerable influence — finally came Sept. 1.