Britain ready to send 5,000 troops to Sudan

LONDON, July 23, 2004 (PA) — Britain could send 5,000 troops to Sudan to intervene in the humanitarian crisis, the head of the Army has said.

The Chief of General Staff, General Sir Mike Jackson, said the Army would be ready if called upon.

He said a brigade of 5,000 soldiers could be ready and fully equipped if the Government decided to send troops in.

In an interview to be shown on BBC News 24’s HARDtalk, General Sir Mike said: “If need be we will be able to go to Sudan. I suspect we could put a brigade together very quickly indeed.”

Asked how many troops that would entail, he replied: “Five thousand.”

Prime Minister Tony Blair has refused to rule out military action but said Britain was not at that point “yet”.

International Development Secretary Hilary Benn today defended Britain’s handling of the crisis.

He said the UK was the largest cash donor and was leading international action to get the Sudanese government to end the violence.

Mr Benn told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that the 120 ceasefire monitors and 300-strong protection force being sent to Sudan could have a “real effect”.

One million people are facing starvation and disease after being driven from their homes in the Darfur region by militias.