Sweden backs UN-led Mali mission with transport plane and crew

Sweden will seek parliamentary approval to contribute a C-130 transport aircraft and crew to a UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, dpa quoted the government as saying Thursday. The 70-person contribution to the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA comprised a crew and support staff as well as officers, Defence Minister Karin Enstrom told reporters. The Swedish force was envisioned to be in place at the earliest July 1. That is when the UN peacekeeping force, numbering an estimated 11,200 peacekeepers and 1,400 police officers, is to replace an African mission known as AFISMA. African countries were to provide the bulk of the UN peacekeepers, Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said, adding that the Swedish force could be expanded to 160 personnel. The mandate was for a 12-month period. Sweden has earlier contributed about 15 officers to train Mali\'s defence forces as part of a European Union-led programme, and this year has allocated 250 million kronor (37 million dollars) in aid to Mali. Bildt said Sweden had coordinated its contribution with its Nordic neighbours. Denmark early this year contributed a C-130 transport plane to Mali when French-led forces launched an offensive on Islamist militants.