We are outraged at this short-sighted callous decision. U.N. troops onIf the Security Council makes them pull out, then many thousands of
the ground in Kigali are doing their best, in terrible circumstances to
protect lives. They want to do more, not less.
It is obviously not feasible for an international force to extend
The Security Council voted on Thursday to cut the number of U.N.
peacekeepers in Rwanda to a bare minimum of 270 despite fears a
withdrawal would increase killings and chaos in the country.
Some 1,500 members of the 2,500-strong U.N. Assistance Mission in
Rwanda were still in the country on Thursday.
Bryer said the Security Council seemed more concerned with its own
public relations than protecting people and sought to reduce damage to
the United Nations' image by pulling out forces rather than hearing how
they had to stand by while people were killed.
He said a better solution would be to extend the mandate of the U.N.
force and increase its strength to allow it to protect civilians.
Oxfam said the United Nations should postpone the withdrawal of its
forces at least until after peace talks opening on Saturday between the
Rwandan government and rebels in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha.
Bryer said.
(c) Reuters Limited 1994
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