UN Security Council inches closer towards authorizing assistance to Chad
February 3, 2008 (NEW YORK) — The UN Security Council (UNSC) appeared close to adopting a statement urging members to support the Deby regime in Chad.
The UNSC met in an extraordinary Sunday session called by France and the three African members of the council — South Africa, Burkina Faso and Libya — and considered a letter from Chad appealing to U.N. members for help.
Heavy fighting erupted in the Chadian capital after rebels swept through the city in a bid to oust Deby.
The capital, which was calm late Sunday, had earlier been rocked by tank battles in the streets and helicopter air strikes.
Anti-tank and automatic weapons fire was heard around the presidential palace, where Deby has been holed up since Friday. Bodies covered with flies littered the streets and aid groups reported hundreds of wounded from the fighting.
The Chadian government said it had qaushed a rebellion aimed at ousting President Idriss Deby and driven the rebels out of the capital Ndjamena.
In New York and after 3 1/2 hours of discussions on a proposed statement condemning the rebel attack, the council adjourned debate until Monday because Russia’s delegation needed more time to consult Moscow over the text, diplomats said.
They said Russia had objected to the first French draft that called on U.N. members to support the Deby government “by all necessary means” — a veiled reference to military aid.
A later draft urged members to “provide support as requested by the government of Chad.” In his handwritten letter to the council, Chadian Ambassador Mahamat Adoum requested “all aid and assistance needed to help (Chad) end this aggression.”
France’s U.N. ambassador, Jean-Maurice Ripert, told reporters there was “almost a consensus” on the text. “We hope to be there tomorrow morning,” he said.
U.S. envoy Alejandro Wolff said Washington was very concerned by the situation in Chad and he called the proposed statement “an important signal to the Chadian government.”
“The main sticking point is support for the government of Chad and its request for assistance.
(Reuters)