Indonesia to send police team to Darfur

September 28, 2007 (JAKARTA) — Indonesia is preparing to send a small police contingent to a joint UN-African Union peacekeeping force in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region, the national police spokesman said Friday.

“Preparation is underway. An advance team with seven personnel will leave as soon as their documents are completed. Another seven personnel will join them soon afterwards,” spokesman Sisno Adiwinoto told reporters.

Indonesia’s foreign minister said in August that the country could contribute up to 150 police personnel, but Adiwinoto said only 140 had so far been requested to join the force.

The UN Security Council passed a resolution mandating a 26,000-strong force for Darfur last month.

The United Nations says at least 200,000 people have died in Darfur and two million more driven from their homes since February 2003. Sudan insists the figures are exaggerated.

(AFP)