The Security Council has demanded an end to a wave of killings in northeastern Congo and urged Secretary-General Kofi Annan to try to round up troops for an emergency international force.
| "Here, you! Stop that! Kofi, make them stop!" |
Annan sent a letter Friday asking the council to approve the speedy deployment of "a highly trained and well-equipped multinational force" to the town of Bunia, which has been at the center of the ethnic violence. He expressed concern that "the rapidly deteriorating situation" would worsen and have serious humanitarian consequences.
| Yes, by Gawd! Send a letter! To the Security Council! That'll do it! |
The secretary-general has already asked France to lead the force and provide a battalion with up to 1,000 troops. But Paris won't accept unless other nations join and the deployment is for a limited period. Council diplomats said Annan has asked about 20 countries for troops and some indicated they were prepared to contribute, including South Africa and Angola. Pakistan's U.N. Ambassador Munir Akram, the current council president, said the council hopes to have a clearer idea about troop contributions early next week. Then, a resolution authorizing an emergency force would be drafted, and hopefully be approved later in the week, he said.
| Dontcha love it when they only take a week or two to deal with an "emergency"? They're fixin' to get ready to discuss having a meeting about making plans to do something... |
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