Chad urges EU to send troops
2008-02-21 16:07
Brussels - Chad's foreign minister called on the European Union on Thursday to accelerate the deployment of its EUFOR peacekeeping troops to stabilise the east of the country and provide security for refugees.
The deployment had stalled because of an armed rebellion in Chad earlier this month.
"We wish that the process of deployment accelerates, not to protect the regime but only to assure the security and stability in the east for the refugee populations," said Chad's Foreign Minister Ahmad Allam-Mi.
"The border? We take care of that. The rebellion? We take care of that. That is not the EUFOR role."
Ireland began the deployment of troops on Wednesday for the delayed EU peacekeeping mission even though the central African country remains in a state of emergency.
A 150-person advance team already has arrived, with the bulk of the 3 700-strong peacekeeping force expected to be flown in next month, he said.
The force is designed to help protect thousands of refugees who have fled the fighting in Sudan's Darfur region.
Allam-Mi also said he counted on the presence of European troops to discourage Sudan from sending fighters into Chad, something Sudan says it has not done. Chad accuses its neighbour to the east of supporting the rebels who assaulted the capital, N'Djamena, in early February.
"EUFOR is in a sense the international presence in the zone which will perhaps dissuade Sudan to send mercenaries our way to destabilise us, up to N'Djamena," he said.
The minister met with EU development Commissioner Louis Michel.
- AP