Citation
UNITED NATIONS, April 8 (Reuter) - Secretary-General Boutros
Boutros-Ghali said the United Nations would need another two or three
battalions in Rwanda if it became necessary to evacuate U.N. civilians
and foreigners.
He also said it would be necessary for the council to change its
present mandate and asked members to give this matter their urgent
attention.
But Iqbal Riza, the deputy chief of peacekeeping,told reporters there
was no immediate operation planned but an effort to give the council
contingency plans. We have just alerted the Security Council that this
might need to be considered and of the resources required,
which he
said would involve 1,500 to 2,000 troops.
Riza said that the council might not need a new mandate but new rules
under the present mandate for the U.N. Assistance Mission in Rwanda
(UNAMIR) which currently has 2,500 troops.
Boutros-Ghali, in his letter said, It is quite possible that the
evacuation of civilian staff from the United Nations system, as well as
other foreign nationals, might become unavoidable in which event UNAMIR
would be hindered in providing assistance under its present mandate and
rules of engagement.
The members of the Security Council might wish to give this matter
their urgent attention,
he said, adding that two or three additional
battalions would be needed.
(c) Reuters Limited 1994
