Norwegian Dafur force may be redeployed

Dec 16, 2006 (STOCKHOLM) — The Norwegian Department of Foreign Affairs is open to the possibility of sending the Norwegian force which was meant for Darfur, to another conflict inAfrica, said reports reaching here from Oslo on Saturday.

“We are still hoping to send the force to Darfur, but it now looks to be difficult to succeed in forming a UN operation in thisregion in the near future,” Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported, quoting Undersecretary of State Raymond Johansen.

However, he refuses to indicate where the Norwegian soldiers may be sent to, but does not believe it will be a problem to redeploy them.

The Norwegian Defense is presently setting up a force of more than 250 soldiers which is preparing to leave for the war-torn region of Darfur. However, the central government in Khartoum doesnot want a UN force in the country.

“There are presently UN operations in seven African conflicts.In several of these, Norwegian troops could be of use. Congo, Burundi and Liberia are all conflict spots to where Norwegian troops could be deployed,” said Andreas Vogt of the Norwegian Institute of Foreign Policy.

Opposition leaders Erna Solberg of the Conservative Party and Morten Hoeglund, spokesman for the right wing Progress Party, are both critical to a possible redeployment in Africa, according to the NRK.

In Solberg’s opinion, the force could be better used in contributing to NATO’s operations in Afghanistan.

(Xinhua)