UN seeks 5,500 more troops and police for South Sudan

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging the U.N. Security Council to add 5,500 troops and police to the 7,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission in conflict-wracked South Sudan.

Ban proposed in a letter to the council obtained Monday by The Associated Press that the troops be transferred from U.N. missions in Congo, Darfur, Abyei, Ivory Coast and Liberia along with three attack helicopters, three utility helicopters and a C-130 military transport plane.

France's U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud, the current council president, said he expects the council to vote Tuesday on a resolution authorizing the transfers.

The secretary-general urged member states to urgently provide transport to get the troops, police and equipment to South Sudan.

Ban said the U.N. mission's capacity to investigate human rights abuses is also being urgently strengthened.

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