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New force to head to Chad and CAR New force to head to Chad and CAR
(about 8 hours later)
France's President Nicholas Sarkozy is seeking the approval of the UN security council to endorse a French proposal to help Darfur's neighbours. The United Nations Security Council has approved a peacekeeping force for Chad and the Central African Republic to protect civilians bordering Darfur.
Humanitarian groups have been lobbying for protection for refugees affected by the spillover of violence from Darfur. The peacekeepers, made up of European Union troops and UN police, will have the right to use force.
Mr Sarkozy will chair a summit, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, aimed at agreeing to send forces to Chad and the Central African Republic. Their aim is to end incursions by fighters from Sudan, who repeatedly cross into neighbouring states to attack villages and refugee camps.
A joint EU and UN force would provide urgent security for the border areas. The UN says there are 236,000 refugees from Sudan's Darfur region in Chad.
Under the plan, 3,000 mainly French EU troops and 300 UN police would be tasked with monitoring camps for people displaced by the violence. Under the plan which has been drawn up by France, 3,000 mainly French EU troops and 300 UN police will be tasked with monitoring camps for people displaced by the violence.
According to the UN there are 173,000 internally displaced people in eastern Chad.
Sarkozy's agenda?Sarkozy's agenda?
The UN says there are 236,000 refugees from Darfur as well as 173,000 internally displaced people in eastern Chad alone. A separate AU-led peacekeeping force is also due inside Darfur
Non-governmental organizations have generally applauded France's efforts to get the humanitarian mission to Chad and CAR under way. Non-governmental organisations have generally applauded French President Nicolas Sarkozy's efforts to get the humanitarian mission to Chad and CAR under way.
But some suspect France of having a hidden agenda in the deployment to two impoverished former colonies.But some suspect France of having a hidden agenda in the deployment to two impoverished former colonies.
"France is not the best placed to play peacemaker because historically it has contributed more to war than peace on the continent," said Fabrice Tarrit, the head of Survie, an association that works to end France's support of corrupt and undemocratic regimes in Africa."France is not the best placed to play peacemaker because historically it has contributed more to war than peace on the continent," said Fabrice Tarrit, the head of Survie, an association that works to end France's support of corrupt and undemocratic regimes in Africa.
Richard Dicker, of New York-based Human Rights Watch, for his part urged the Security Council to use Tuesday's session to impress on Khartoum "its binding legal obligation to arrest and surrender Ahmed Haroun". Richard Dicker, of New York-based Human Rights Watch, for his part had urged the Security Council to use Tuesday's session to impress on Khartoum "its binding legal obligation to arrest and surrender Ahmed Haroun".
In May, the International Criminal Court in the Hague issued arrest warrants for Mr Haroun, since named as Sudan's secretary of state for humanitarian affairs, and for pro-government Janjaweed militia leader Ali Kosheib. In May, the International Criminal Court in the Hague issued arrest warrants for Mr Haroun, since named as Sudan's secretary of state for humanitarian affairs, and for pro-government Janjaweed militia leader Ali Kushayb.
The two face a long list of charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur but Sudan has refused to hand them over.The two face a long list of charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur but Sudan has refused to hand them over.