|
French troops arrive in DR Congo
Damm, that was fast:French troops have begun arriving in the town of Bunia in eastern Congo where hundreds have been killed in weeks of violence. People in Bunia shouted with joy as the troops drove into the town which has been the scene of several reported massacres. We'll see how long the cheering lasts. The soldiers are spearheading a 1,400-strong rapid reaction force being deployed under a special mandate from the United Nations to provide security and protect civilians. The officer in command of the forces told the BBC's Ishbel Matheson that the troops' first priority was to secure the airport. Four or five UK officers have also arrived to assist in investigating the risks and technical difficulties involved in deploying a multinational force to Bunia. Our correspondent says the soldiers arrived without warning, and that more are expected to touch down throughout the day. She says the presence of foreign troops may deter killing in Bunia, but elsewhere in the surrounding countryside in Ituri region the massacres are likely to continue. It's a given. The European Union ratified the sending of the force on Thursday - the first time EU peacekeeping troops have been deployed outside Europe. Lunch is now being served. Posted by: Steve 2003-06-06 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=15155 |