NEW ORLEANS - A motion to keep two Confederate monuments in place in New Orleans has failed.

Council member at-large Stacy Head asked Thursday to keep large monuments to Confederate commanders Robert E. Lee and P.G.T. Beauregard in place. But her motion received no support from the seven-person council.

The council is poised to make a sweeping break with its past as it considers removing prominent Confederate monuments from some of its busiest streets.

Head made her motion after public comments at Thursday's meeting. A council vote is to follow.

Head also asked Mayor Mitch Landrieu to spell out future plans for what will happen to other monuments, such as a statue of Andrew Jackson in the French Quarter.

Landrieu says a commission should be established to consider creating a park where the city's history - and the removed monuments - can be explained.