Italian peacekeeping troops arrive in Sudan

KHARTOUM, June 19, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — Operation “Nilo” (Nile) is under way with the arrival of the first 60 Italian soldiers in Khartoum, one involving 220 soldiers over the next six months, the Italian Corriere della Sera reported.

Under the aegis of the United Nations, their task will be that of ensuring observance of peace accords signed last January between the Sudanese government and the rebels of the south.

Having left Pisa on Friday 17 June night, the men of the “advanced nucleus” will be tasked with organizing deployment of the Italian contingent, which is expected to be complete by July.

The task force’s hard kernel will be made up of men of the Folgore Brigade’s 183rd paratrooper Nembo regiment.

Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service