UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proposed a U.N. peacekeeping force for Mali with 11,200 troops working alongside a non-U.N. force that would conduct major combat and counter-terrorism operations against Islamic extremists Tuesday as one option to maintain security after French forces leave the crisis-wracked West African nation.

The U.N. chief said in a report to the Security Council that another option would be to strengthen the U.N.’s new political mission in Mali and give the African-led force in Mali known as AFISMA, responsibility for security and offensive combat operations, as a prelude to a U.N. stabilization mission.