GERMAN PARLIAMENT ON THURSDAY GAVE FINAL APPROVAL TO THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO DEPLOY NEARLY 800 TROOPS AS PART OF A EUROPEAN MISSION TO CONGO THAT WILL SUPPORT U.N. PEACEKEEPERS DURING ELECTIONS, AP REPORTED. GERMANY WILL CONTRIBUTE 500 SOLDIERS TO THE EU FORCE, AS WELL AS 280 SUPPORT TROOPS FOR MEDICAL AND LOGISTICAL TASKS, ACCORDING TO THE PLAN. THE TOTAL SIZE OF THE EU FORCE IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT 1,700. FRANCE IS EXPECTED TO SEND 500 TROOPS, AND ANOTHER 16 OF THE 25 EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERS HAVE AGREED TO CONTRIBUTE IN SOME WAY, DEFENSE MINISTER FRANZ JOSEF JUNG HAS SAID. THE CONGO MISSION IS SLATED TO BEGIN JULY 30, THE DAY THE CENTRAL AFRICAN COUNTRY'S ELECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED TO START, AND LAST FOUR MONTHS. MUCH OF THE EU FORCE WILL BE ON STANDBY IN NEARBY GABON. THE ELECTIONS FOR PRESIDENT AND THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WILL BE CONGO'S FIRST IN 40 YEARS. THE VIOLENCE-PLAGUED NATION HAS DELAYED THE VOTE REPEATEDLY FOR LOGISTICAL REASONS. PARLIAMENT VOTED 440 IN FAVOR OF THE MISSION, WITH 135 AGAINST AND SIX ABSTENTIONS.
