French President Francois Hollande has said that his government is ready to stop rebels who are currently in control of the north Mali.

The rebels have been advancing southwards and captured more territory in recent weeks, prompting Mali’s President Diancounda Traore to send a letter to Paris and UN chief Ban Ki-moon, pleading for assistance.

"They (rebels) are trying to deliver a fatal blow to the very existence of this country," Mr Hollande said.

"France, like its African partners, cannot accept this. I have decided that France will respond, alongside our African partners, to the request from the Malian authorities.

"We will do it strictly within the framework of the United Nations Security Council resolution. We will be ready to stop the terrorists' offensive if it continues."

A UN approved plan to send African troops to support Malian forces is only due to commence in September.

Following an emergency summit on Thursday, the UN Security Council called for "rapid deployment" of the troops and expressed concern at the advances by "terrorists and extremists groups".

French minister Kader Arif appeared to dismiss a quick deployment of French troops to Mali.

"There is clearly an emergency but... there's no point in rushing in. At the same time, there can be no kind of engagement that could take place in this emergency without taking account of the international scale."