"The council expressed its readiness to further examine this request and encouraged close cooperation between the Malian transitional authorities, ECOWAS, the African Union and other countries to prepare detailed options in regard to any such forces mandate, " the United Nations said in a statement.

CNN: U.N. defers decision on military intervention in Mali

On ABC's "This Week, " Rahall said a "strong request" was made to close the offices of Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other groups in Syria.

CNN: Lawmaker: Syria vows not to harbor wanted Iraqis