Nato agrees Darfur mission plans

More African Union peacekeepers are to be sent to Darfur

Nato has agreed plans for airlifting African Union (AU) peacekeepers into Sudan's Darfur region in the alliance's first ever mission in Africa.

The decision came at a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels.

The airlift is to be carried out by both Nato and the European Union, the ministers said in their communique.

The deal appeared to have ended an apparent dispute with France, which said its troops would be operating under an EU - not a Nato - flag.

France had objected to the Nato contribution as the EU was already assisting the AU with the mission in Darfur.

Nato said it was the proper body for the job given the large American airlift capacity.

The issue has reignited debate over the alleged rivalry between the EU and Nato over defence issues.

But Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the situation in Darfur was so appalling that "we must do all that is in our power, in coordination with other organisations, starting with the EU, to assist the African Union in its efforts".

French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie also welcomed the Nato ministers' agreement.

"It's clear that it will be a way to fill certain gaps that there may be in the EU, which can't provide everything," she said.

"I think the complementary support will be welcome."

The AU is increasing its force in Darfur to more than 7,700 in an attempt to end two years of civil war there.

More than 180,000 people have died and two million have fled their homes in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The AU currently has 2,200 peacekeepers in Darfur, but its plans to increase that force to 5,500 soldiers, 1,600 civilian police and 700 military observers are being hampered by logistical problems and a lack of air transport.