EU to start planning for possible peacekeeping mission to Chad

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

By Constant Brand, Associated Press Writer

European Union nations agreed yesterday to start planning for a possible 3,000-strong peacekeeping mission to Chad to help protect aid to tens of thousands of refugees fleeing the conflict in Darfur.

A meeting of EU foreign ministers said that any mission had to be backed by the United Nations "with a clearly defined exit strategy" and in cooperation with the African Union, neighboring countries and humanitarian aid groups.

They said in a statement that the EU could provide forces "in support of the ... UN presence in eastern Chad and northeastern Central African Republic with a view to improving security in those areas."

The interim EU mission, if approved, would eventually hand over to a UN-African Union peacekeeping force, said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

Read more: http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2795639.ece

[applegrove]

1. Good for them.