Mali seeks urgent foreign military action Mali has requested urgent international military assistance from France after Islamist rebels drove the army out of a town in the centre of the country. The move by the al-Qaeda-linked militants marked the first clashes with government troops since the rebels took control of Mali's vast north last April, and raised fears that they may try to move further south towards the city of Mopti. In an emergency session on Thursday night, the UN Security Council expressed "grave concern" at the rebels" advance, which saw them capture Konna, a town 375 miles northeast of the capital Konna. "This serious deterioration of the situation threatens even more the stability and integrity of Mali, and constitutes a direct threat to international peace and security," the council said, repeating earlier calls for UN members to assist Mali's security forces. The meeting was called by France, which along with the west African regional bloc Ecowas has led the push for international military intervention in Mali. Its UN ambassador, Gerad Araud, said Mali's interim president Dioncounda Traore had requested urgent help from France on Thursday. "This terrorist attack weakens even more the stability of Mali and thereby that of its neighbours,"" Mr Araud said. "Sustainability of the Malian government and the protection of civilian populations are now at stake."" He said the French government would make an announcement on Friday on what assistance it would offer. Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the UN, said that Mali's request, which was copied to UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, "wasn't specific, but it basically said, "Help! France" ." In December the security council approved the deployment of an African force to help Mali's army retake the north. But troops were not expected on the ground before September, to allow for proper planning and training. Mali's army is weak, and was unable to contain a rebellion by Tuareg and Islamist forces that started in Mali's north a year ago. When officers upset at the lack of government support for the army staged a coup in March, troops completely withdrew from the north. The well-armed Islamist groups, which include al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, and which have enlisted foreign fighters, then quickly pushed the Tuaregs aside. Mali's army has a significant presence in Mopti, a city of roughly 100,000 people which until this week was not considered under serious threat. But after nine months of consolidating control in the north, especially in the larger towns of Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal, where they have implemented sharia law, convoys of rebels moved closer to the front lines on Monday, drawing warning fire from Malian troops. The army claimed to have made its own advance, and to have retaken the nearby town of Douentza on Thursday. While this could not be confirmed, the rebel capture of Konna was. Residents reported hours of shooting, after which Islamist fighters paraded through the centre of town, saying they would move on to Mopti, about 30 miles south. Mali's army has launched a counter-offensive to take back the town including the use of helicopters, according to Reuters. The news caused panic in Mopti and its sister town Sévaré, with some aid workers withdrawing towards Bamako. Reuters reported that military aircraft and helicopters were seen landing at Sévaré airport on Thursday, carrying white soldiers and army equipment. France did not offer comment on the report.