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EU Chad mission set for go-ahead Military approves EU Chad mission
(about 15 hours later)
Military officials are expected to give their approval on Friday for a European peacekeeping force in Chad and the Central African Republic. Military officials have approved a European peacekeeping force in Chad and the Central African Republic.
The contingent will have the task of protecting refugees from Darfur and people displaced by internal fighting.The contingent will have the task of protecting refugees from Darfur and people displaced by internal fighting.
The two biggest contributors to the mission, France and Ireland, are confident that a shortfall of troops and equipment has been resolved. EU ministers will still have to rubber-stamp the 3,500-strong force in time for a launch in early February.
France said on Thursday it could provide extra soldiers and aircraft. Diplomats said that a shortfall of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft had been solved by further contributions from France, Belgium and Poland.
Irish commander Repeated delays
Friday's military meeting in Brussels will be chaired by Irish commander Lieutenant General Pat Nash who will decide whether the contributions from EU member states will make the mission viable. The mission has been delayed several times since November 2007, but a French government spokesman said on Thursday that President Nicolas Sarkozy had authorised additional resources to help "unblock" the situation.
EU ministers will still have to rubber-stamp the 3,700-strong force in time for a launch in early February. The Italian government has also offered to provide a hospital.
France has promised to deploy at least 1,350 troops and the Irish Defence Forces are to send a further 450. Chiefs of staff and EU ambassadors will consider the plans which are then likely to go before an EU Council of Ministers meeting at the end of January.
French troops are already stationed in eastern Chad and 50 elite soldiers from the Irish Army Ranger Wing are said to be ready to begin long-range patrols. Friday's military meeting in Brussels was chaired by Irish commander Lieutenant General Pat Nash who is due to run the operation from its headquarters near Paris.
Further contributions are to come from Austria, Belgium, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden.
Four sectorsFour sectors
The force which has a UN Security Council mandate is known as Eufor Chad/CAR and is expected to be deployed in four areas, three in Chad and one in the Central African Republic.The force which has a UN Security Council mandate is known as Eufor Chad/CAR and is expected to be deployed in four areas, three in Chad and one in the Central African Republic.
More than 200,000 refugees from Darfur are in camps in the region, along with 178,000 displaced Chadians and 43,000 Central Africans.More than 200,000 refugees from Darfur are in camps in the region, along with 178,000 displaced Chadians and 43,000 Central Africans.
While General Nash will command the mission from its headquarters near Paris, a French brigadier general will take charge on the ground. A French brigadier general will take charge on the ground.
The mission has been delayed several times since November 2007, but a French government spokesman said on Thursday that President Sarkozy had authorised additional resources to help "unblock" the situation. France has promised to deploy at least 1,350 troops and the Irish Defence Forces are to send a further 450.
Until now, the force had struggled to come up with sufficient numbers of helicopters, which were considered essential for working in such a large area. French troops are already stationed in eastern Chad and 50 elite soldiers from the Irish Army Ranger Wing are said to be ready to begin long-range patrols.
Further contributions are to come from Austria, Greece, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain and Sweden.