CANADA, which will head a UN multinational humanitarian force for eastern Zaire, said yesterday the troops would not be responsible for disarming militias or separating them from refugees.
"This element will not be parts of the mandate," said the Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Gordon Smith, as details of the deployment the UN Security Council was expected to approve today were hammered out. Officials were close to agreeing on a resolution, though they stills" needed to "eliminate a few remaining technical problems."
Asked about US demands that a de facto ceasefire be in place before the multinational force is deployed, Mr Smith said: "We are close to having full agreement."
Meanwhile, heavy shelling between Hutu militias in the Mugunga refugee camp and rebel forces trying to consolidate their grip on eastern Zaire prevented aid distribution yesterday.
The international force would be charged with opening up corridors to refugee centres and setting up staging airbases in bordering countries, said Canadian Lieut Gen Maurice Baril, who is to head to force.
The Zairean rebel leader, Mr Laurent Desire Kabila, yesterday warned of a situation like that in Somalia if the multi national force is "ill intentioned" or if it seeks to "Balkanise the country".
At a press conference in Goma, Mr Kabila said he had urged an all African force rather than from "countries with a colonial past". He also cast doubt on whether the rebels would allow the force to use Goma's airport.
The international force would be responsible for setting up refugee camps under the authority of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. "If I am the one responsible, no one will go in (the refugee camps) armed," Lieut Gen Baril said. The core of western nations contributing troops to the mission and Lieut Gen Baril achieved consensus on the rules of engagement yesterday.
In eastern Zaire yesterday several people were injured in shelling near Goma, the heaviest for over a week.
The renewed fighting is likely to delay further the aid agencies objective of bringing assistance to the 1.2 million Hutu refugees still in Zaire. Between 250,000 and 400,000 people are reported to be in the Mugunga camp, 15 km beyond Goma, from which the Hutu militias are launching their shells.
Several hundred Zairean refugees, some with war wounds, arrived in Goma yesterday by boat from the town of Sake across Lake Kivu, where heavy fighting is reported.
The 10 aid agencies involved in providing relief in the area, including Concern and Trocaire, will meet representatives of the rebel force in Goma today to try to agree the details of how assistance will be distributed.
Yesterday Zairean Tutsi rebel forces were seen bringing mortars to within half a mile of Mugunga refugee camp, from which the Hutu militias have been shelling Goma. This has increased speculation that the rebels might launch an attack on the camp before the international military force arrives.
The rebels fear that the UN force will not have the mandate to disarm the Hutu militias and have therefore considered trying to do, it themselves.
Ireland is prepared to participate in a proposed international humanitarian protection force in eastern Zaire "to the extent that we can", the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, has said.
During a telephone conversation with the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Jean Chretien, last night the Taoiseach said any involvement by Irish troops was likely to require a Dail resolution.
Government sources in Dublin last night said they understood the operation would come within the parameters of the Chapter Seven heading which allows for peace enforcement, as opposed to peacekeeping, missions. Irish soldiers have only once been involved in such an operation, in Somalia.
A statement from the Government Information Services said that the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, and the Minister for Defence, Mr Barrett, were "actively pursuing the matter at present
Speaking in Paris yesterday, Mr Spring said: "I believe the Irish people would want us to take part, in an international force. I believe the Government would reflect this. We had a transport division in Somalia. We now have people in monitoring missions in former Yugoslavia. There's a lot of experience built up out there much of it in logistics. We have to look at all these options."
An EU ambassadors' meeting at the UN yesterday was called at Ireland's initiative under the EU presidency. Its goal is to put a united European label on the deployment of European troops to Zaire. If Ireland succeeds in this undertaking, it will be the first time the EU has taken a common position on contributing to a peacekeeping force.