Canada promises aid but no more troops for Darfur

May 23, 2006 -(Reuters) Canada promised more financial aid on Tuesday for the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur but stopped short of boosting its small military contingent.

"Canada must act," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said as he announced financial support would rise by C$40 million ($36 million).

Harper had said two weeks ago that he was ready to consider sending troops to Darfur if necessary, though any major commitment would be impossible because of a current deployment to Afghanistan.

Asked by a reporter on Tuesday if new Canadian personnel would be involved with Darfur, however, he said: "Very unlikely."

The Canadian Forces currently have 17 soldiers supporting the African Union's Darfur peacekeeping mission, including three Canadians in Darfur itself.

Of the increased aid, C$20 million will be used for urgent humanitarian aid and the same amount will go to help the African Union's initial implementation of a peace deal there and lay the groundwork for a transition to a U.N. mission.

"Combined, these efforts should help to normalize and stabilize the region, the necessary first step, if the peace process is to succeed," Harper said.

The Department of National Defence's web site says that since September 2004 Canada has contributed C$218 million in humanitarian aid and peace-building assistance for Darfur.

($1=$1.12 Canadian)

From: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N23194419.htm