Uruguayan Defense Minister Jose Bayardi said Friday that he will visit the country's peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Bayardi told local radio El Espectador that the situation in the DRC is "very critical", especially in the eastern city of Goma, where there are some 600 Uruguayan blue helmets serving as part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission.
Bayardi is scheduled to travel to the DRC on Nov.17 with Army Chief Jorge Rosales, together with some eight tons of munitions and logistic supplies.
He admitted that the transport units of the Uruguayan force lack spare parts to repair their vehicles.
Recent days have seen an escalation in hostilities in North Kivu province between DRC government forces and the Laurent Nkunda-led rebel force known as the National Congress for the Defense of the People.
The rebel force has been trying to take Goma, capital of North Kivu province, and has advanced to an area some two km away from the U.N. base where the Uruguayans are stationed.
"Our force is fine. They are tired because they have been confronting the rebels for 48 hours by noon," Bayardi said.
Source:Xinhua
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