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| UN to begin Darfur peace mission | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The new United Nations peacekeeping force for Darfur in Sudan is due to start its operations. | |
| The force, Unamid, replaces the African Union observer mission in the western region to become the world's largest peacekeeping force with 26,000 troops. | The force, Unamid, replaces the African Union observer mission in the western region to become the world's largest peacekeeping force with 26,000 troops. |
| The deployment of the force has been delayed by a dispute with the Sudanese government over its composition. | The deployment of the force has been delayed by a dispute with the Sudanese government over its composition. |
| It will also immediately face a severe test - how to deal with a new offensive by Chadian forces and Darfur rebels. | |
| A number of towns and villages in western Darfur have been under attack from the combined force since Friday. | A number of towns and villages in western Darfur have been under attack from the combined force since Friday. |
| Hamstrung | Hamstrung |
| The new United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (Unamid) is an attempt to end the conflict in the troubled Sudanese region, which has seen the deaths of more than 200,000 people since 2003. | |
| It currently has just 9,000 soldiers and police on the ground. | It currently has just 9,000 soldiers and police on the ground. |
| African Union soldiers will be part of the new peacekeeping force | African Union soldiers will be part of the new peacekeeping force |
| Its operations have been hamstrung by quarrels with the Sudanese government over which troop contributing countries are acceptable. | Its operations have been hamstrung by quarrels with the Sudanese government over which troop contributing countries are acceptable. |
| The international community has also, so far, been unable to agree on who will provide Unamid with the attack helicopters it so badly needs. | The international community has also, so far, been unable to agree on who will provide Unamid with the attack helicopters it so badly needs. |
| Yet on the eve of its establishment, it is already facing a major test - an attack by Chadian armed forces fighting alongside Darfur rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement. | Yet on the eve of its establishment, it is already facing a major test - an attack by Chadian armed forces fighting alongside Darfur rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement. |
| Chad denies its troops have crossed the border but diplomatic sources, who have asked not to be named, have said a number of Sudanese towns and villages in the area of el-Geneina are under threat. | Chad denies its troops have crossed the border but diplomatic sources, who have asked not to be named, have said a number of Sudanese towns and villages in the area of el-Geneina are under threat. |
| The Sudanese government has complained to the UN Security Council. | The Sudanese government has complained to the UN Security Council. |
| Chad has said its ground and air forces have attacked rebel targets along the border, but have not crossed into Sudan. | Chad has said its ground and air forces have attacked rebel targets along the border, but have not crossed into Sudan. |