French soldiers in Chad begin relief work for Sudan's Darfur

[Flagg]

FRENCH SOLDIERS IN CHAD BEGIN RELIEF WORK FOR SUDAN'S DARFUR
Received Saturday, 31 July 2004 16:31:00 GMT

NDJAMENA, July 31 (AFP) - French soldiers stationed in Chad began airlifting aid to the border with Sudan's Darfur region Saturday, as Sudan reluctantly agreed to accept a UN Security Council resolution threatening international action unless atrocities in Darfur are halted within 30 days.
After President Jacques Chirac ordered a mobilization to help the 1.2 million people driven from their homes by Sudanese troops and Arab militia known as Janjaweed, French forces in Chad began flying relief supplies to the border town of Abeche and prepared to send 200 troops to secure Chad's eastern frontier with Darfur, according to army colonel Philippe Charles.
However the French action stopped short of entering Sudanese territory where the government has warned it would send its army to repel any foreign military intervention.
Amid concern that the escalating crisis could turn Sudan into a new breeding ground for terrorism and instability, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak sent a message Saturday to his Sudanese counterpart, Omar al-Beshir, urging him to bring the Janjaweed militias under control.
The Security Council passed a resolution Friday giving Sudan 30 days to rein in the militias, and threatened unspecified international action, without specifically using the word sanctions.

http://www.ttc.org/200407311631.i6vgvkq28505.htm