EU states back call for Congo support force

BRUSSELS – European countries have agreed to respond to a UN call to help its peacekeepers in Congo during forthcoming elections, charging military planners to work out how troops could be best deployed.

A final decision is not expected until the end of the month, and planners will study options ranging from a deployment of anything from 200 to 1 250 troops, some possibly on standby. “The European Union is keen to engage, the question is how,” said an EU diplomat after a meeting of envoys in Brussels.Another diplomat stressed that any mission would be to complement the nearly 17 000 UN peacekeepers already there.”This is not in any way about substituting for them,” said the diplomat.Britain, whose army is stretched by its 8 000-strong Iraq deployment and other military commitments, agreed on the need to provide support in Congo but would not be contributing forces itself, a British government spokeswoman said.- Nampa-Reuters”The European Union is keen to engage, the question is how,” said an EU diplomat after a meeting of envoys in Brussels.Another diplomat stressed that any mission would be to complement the nearly 17 000 UN peacekeepers already there.”This is not in any way about substituting for them,” said the diplomat.Britain, whose army is stretched by its 8 000-strong Iraq deployment and other military commitments, agreed on the need to provide support in Congo but would not be contributing forces itself, a British government spokeswoman said.- Nampa-Reuters