UNITED NATIONS, April 2: The United States is pressing the United Nations to ensure that 3,600 more international peacekeepers are deployed in Sudan’s strife-torn Darfur region by June, according to a letter seen here on Wednesday.

“We believe that the deployment of 3,600 new African troops by June, a target number based on the UN’s planning schedule, will bring increased security and stability to the people of Darfur,” said the letter sent to UN chief Ban Ki-moon by US presidential envoy to Sudan Richard Williamson.

The joint UN-African Union force known for Darfur, known as UNAMID, is to total 26,000 members tasked with protecting the civilian population of a

region the size of France which has been mired in civil strife

between ethnic minority

rebels and the Khartoum government.

So far, only around 9,000 are actually on the ground.

“At this crucial moment, the deployment of new troops as quickly as possible is our best hope to change the course of this tragedy,” said Williamson in his letter dated March 27.

“We appreciate the full partnership of the United Nations in this effort, especially as we focus on the deployment of the Egyptians, Ethiopians and Rwandans by June,” he added.

Washington has earmarked $100 million for training and outfitting the African troops which have been pledged for the UNAMID mission.

Williamson said Ethiopian and Rwandan troops were currently taking part in US-sponsored training prior to their deployment in Darfur and added that Washington would “urge additional partner countries to contribute to UNAMID.”

Last February, Jean-Marie Guehenno, the outgoing head of UN peacekeeping operations said the UN would give priority to deploying an Ethiopian contingent for UNAMID provided Khartoum quickly agreed to the simultaneous deployment of battled-hardened Nepalese and Thai units.

Khartoum has been dragging its feet on allowing key non-African forces to serve with UNAMID, arguing that the UN should turn to available African troops first.

UN peacekeeping planners are also complaining that UNAMID still lacks crucial air transport and ground logistical assets, including 24 attack and transport helicopters.

At least 200,000 people have died from the combined effects of war, famine and diseases and more than two million have fled their homes in Darfur since the ethnic minority rebels took up arms against Sudan’s Arab-dominated regime in February 2003.—AFP