"Rwanda troops airlifted to start AU mission in Darfur"

Rwandan troops were airlifted today to Sudan's Darfur as the first foreign force there, mandated to protect observers monitoring a cease-fire between the Sudanese government and rebels in the troubled western region.

Some 154 Rwandan troops and military equipment were being sent to Darfur at the weekend as part of an African Union (AU) force. Rwandan President Paul Kagame said on Saturday his soldiers would also intervene to protect civilians in danger. Dressed in new, beige camouflage uniforms and green berets sporting AU badges, the troops made last-minute phone calls to friends and family from the airstrip before shouldering their backpacks and boarding two Antonov-12 planes as a military band played. "This is the last departure, they're all gone," Rwandan government spokesman Joseph Bideri said after the planes left.

Full Article : sabcnews.com

Kagame said soldiers would use force to protect civilians, if needed

Rwandan troops have arrived in Sudan to help protect African Union (AU) ceasefire monitors in the war-ravaged western region of Darfur.

"We welcome the 150 Rwandan soldiers," Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail told reporters.

He said 150 Nigerian soldiers would join the protection force this month.

The small AU team is overseeing a ceasefire between Khartoum and two rebel groups in Darfur, where fighting has claimed 50,000 lives.

Full Article : bbc.co.uk