THE MAIN BODY OF GERMAN TROOPS ASSIGNED TO PEACEKEEPING DUTIES IN THE CONGO WAS SET TO START FLYING OUT OF GERMANY MONDAY, WITH THE DEFENCE MINISTER FRANZ JOSEF JUNG PREDICTING ALL 780 SOLDIERS WOULD BE IN PLACE BY JULY 18, DPA REPORTED. THE GERMANS FORM PART OF A 2,000-STRONG EUROPEAN UNION FORCE, EUFOR, ASSIGNED TO COPE WITH ANY VIOLENCE BEFORE OR AFTER A JULY 30 POLL. MOST OF THE GERMANS WILL NOT BE BASED IN CONGO AT ALL, BUT IN THE GABON CAPITAL LIBREVILLE, 800 KILOMETRES NORTHWEST OF KINSHASA. FRANCE IS SENDING THE LARGEST CONTINGENT FOR THE FORCE, FORECAST TO REMAIN IN PLACE FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS. AMONG THE ROLES FORMALLY ASSIGNED TO THE GERMANS IS THE RESCUE OF INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS IF VIOLENCE BREAKS OUT. ONLY 280 OF THE GERMANS WILL BE DEPLOYED IMMEDIATELY TO THE CONGO CAPITAL KINSHASA, A SPRAWLING, MULTI-ETHNIC CITY OF 7 MILLION. THE UNITED NATIONS ASKED THE EU TO SEND TROOPS AMID FEARS THAT THE ELECTION LOSERS MIGHT USE THEIR OWN MILITIA FORCES TO STAGE A COUP WHEN THE ELECTION RESULTS ARE ANNOUNCED FOUR WEEKS AFTER THE POLL.
