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Aircraft cuts, Sudan worries cloud UN council trip
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Oct 6, 2010 - 7:41:41 AM

By JOHN HEILPRIN (AP) � 4 hours ago

ENTEBBE, Uganda � A senior U.N. official says budget cuts are hampering operations in Congo and Sudan and more planes may be grounded.

Paul Buades, the new director of support services for the U.N.'s peacekeeping mission in Congo, told journalists Wednesday that three planes have been cut and six more may be mothballed because of $73 million in budget cuts.

He says the U.N. has been left with no attack helicopters and only non-military commercial helicopters.

The U.N. Security Council toured a major air base for United Nations peacekeeping missions based in Entebbe, Uganda and also met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

The council is scheduled to visit Southern Sudan and the conflict-wracked western Darfur region.