The United Nations got its first pledges of troops for a proposed peacekeeping force in Sudan's Darfur region at a meeting last night of 49 potential contributing nations.
Participants at the closed-door session said Norway had offered 250 logistics experts and, together with Sweden, a battalion of engineers. Tanzania, Nigeria and Bangladesh pledged infantry soldiers.
There is also no sign that Sudan's government will allow the United Nations to take over the African Union (AU) operation in Darfur, however.
Without Khartoum's permission, no nation will send troops to Darfur and risk a battle with the Sudanese military, which has increased its troops and aircraft in Darfur.
The African Union force of some 7,000 troops and monitors has agreed to stay until year's end to help stop atrocities in Darfur but has been unable to stop the violence that has driven 2.5 million people from their homes and left an estimated 200,000 dead since 2003.
At the moment, the only foreseeable action is to reinforce the African troops, with AU nations having promised 4,000 additional soldiers. The United Nations plans to send 100 personnel to run communications and other equipment while Arab nations promised to contribute funds to the AU operation.
The Darfur conflict erupted in February 2003, when non-Arab rebels took up arms against the government, claiming the region was being marginalised. In response, the government armed Arab militias, known as Janjaweed, which have been accused of murder, rape and looting.
In recent months, rebels have split into factions and committed atrocities against civilians.