UN considers force for Chad

[Omaha Steve]

Source: News 24

New York - With the Darfur conflict spilling into Chad and the Central African Republic, the European Union and the United Nations are considering troops and police to protect fleeing Sudanese refugees.

Stressing that talks were still in the preliminary stage, Jean-Marie Guehenno, the undersecretary-general in charge of peacekeeping, told reporters on Friday the concept was a European military force in Chad and a "UN mission with a strong police component."

Guehenno said he was traveling to Brussels next week for discussions with EU officials on protecting refugees and people fleeing their villages in eastern Chad because of the fighting in neighboring Darfur.

He also advocated international protection for the homeless in the northern part of the Central African Republic, which, like Chad, borders Sudan's Darfur region.



Read more: http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_2146963,00.html

[David__77]

1. So what does Chad have to say about it?

Not one word about what the sovereign state of Chad has to say about this plan. That's odd journalism.

[Igel]

2. They might have updated it recently.

"Faced with large numbers of refugees arriving from Darfur, and struggling to contain violence linked to the Darfur conflict and a domestic rebellion, Chad has repeatedly called for international assistance to protect refugees but until recently has balked at a military force."