The Chadian government reiterated on Wednesday its strong opposition to the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping force in eastern Chad, bordering Sudan's troubled Darfur region.

"Chad will never accept the deployment of any foreign military force on its eastern border, except for civilian police officers," said Chadian Deputy Foreign Minister Djidda Moussa Outman at a meeting with envoys from the United States, France, Russia and China.

In a report to the UN Security Council last week, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proposed deploying a UN force in eastern Chad, which he said is facing a security and humanitarian crisis.

According to the report, insurgency in eastern Chad had displaced some 120,000 people by Feb. 1. In addition, Chad is hosting 232,000 refugees from Sudan, primarily from Darfur.

Ban proposed two possible military options for Chad: a 6,000-strong force backed by 20 helicopters and an observation aircraft and a 10,900-strong force backed by 11 helicopters and two observation aircraft.

He also recommended deploying 260 international police to a dozen refugee camps in eastern Chad.

The Security Council, which held closed consultations on Ban's proposals on Tuesday, reportedly supports the deployment of a UN force in Chad. But approval by the Chadian government is essential before any UN troops can be dispatched to the central African nation.

Source: Xinhua