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Uruguayan President Jorge Batlle began a two-day visit on Wednesday to the Democratic Republic of the Congo where he is to inspect his troops taking part in UN peacekeeping operations in the country, an official of the UN mission, known as MONUC, reported.
Batlle arrived in the northeastern city of Kisangani where some Uruguayan troops are based. Others are in Bukavu, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Monono and Mbandaka, UN spokeswomen Patricia Tome said.
With 1,751 troops and 40 military observers, Uruguay is the largest South American troop contributor to the UN Mission. Others are from Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru. Argentina contributes to MONUC's civilian police contingent.
MONUC's authorised maximum strength of military personnel is 10,800. By 31 March, there were 10,184 troops and 551 military observers serving in the mission that is due to end on 30 July. Other than the military component, MONUC's civilian personnel include specialists in human rights, humanitarian affairs, public information, child protection, political affairs, medical and administrative support.
On the Net: Batlle Condecoró a Militares Uruguayos:
http://www.presidencia.gub.uy/
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions