UN urges action on bigger Darfur peacekeeping force

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2007

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) — The United Nations on Monday hailed Khartoum's decision to allow 3,000 UN personnel to bolster African Union troops in Darfur but urged quick action toward a larger deployment of joint AU-UN peacekeepers.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon described Khartoum's announcement as "a very positive sign" after he and AU Commission chair Alpha Oumar Konare briefed the 15-member Council on the latest Darfur developments.

Khartoum earlier Monday gave its consent for the dispatch of 3,000 UN personnel -- mostly military and police staff -- to provide logistical, communications and air support to 7,000 under-equipped AU troops that have failed to stem four years of bloody ethnic strife in Darfur.

"I and the AU intend to move quickly to prepare for the...