"UK promise of troops for Africa"

Geldof 'diplomacy' eclipses UK promise of troops for Africa

Tony Blair's launch of an initiative for British humanitarian intervention in Africa yesterday was overshadowed by his outspoken companion, Bob Geldof, who accused an EU aid official of "talking out of his arse".

Mr Blair had announced that1,500 British soldiers would be committed to a 10,000-strong European force of "rapidly deployable" battle groups.

The force would be established by 2006, with a mission to "hold the fort" in African conflicts before United Nations or African Union peace-keepers can be deployed. Mr Blair also pledged to train 20,000 African troops in logistics and planning, and warned that war was a major factor holding back the continent's development.

Downing Street said the force would be set up alongside the planned European Rapid Reaction Force. The battle-groups would be deployable for up to three months to intervene in battle zones before African troops can take over long-term peace-keeping work.

Full Article : independent.co.uk

No British/European/American troops should be deployed in Africa. Reparations and not charity is what Africa needs.