Bush Orders Rush Delivery Of Equipment To Sudan's Darfur Region

January 5, 2009 9:11 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - U.S. President George Bush on Monday ordered the State and Defense departments to immediately fly heavy equipment to Sudan, needed by African Union and United Nations peacekeepers in the Darfur region.

Bush issued the order to deliver 240 containers of the equipment so the ill-equipped peacekeepers can improve the security situation in west Darfur to allow for aid deliveries, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said. Lack of troops and equipment are hampering peacekeeping efforts by the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur.

The order was issued after a meeting between Bush and Sudan First Vice President Salva Kiir at the White House.

Kiir was invited to Washington to mark the fourth anniversary of the signing of a peace agreement between the government and rebels. He briefed Bush on the situation in violence-wracked Darfur and thanked the U.S. leader's support to bring peace in the region.