The United Nations (U.N.) Security Council on Monday unanimously passed a presidential statement on Chad condemning the rebel attacks and promising aid and support to the torn country's government. The 15-member council held emergency consultations on the situation in Chad on Sunday continuing into Monday, in response to a request by Chad's U.N. Ambassador Mahamat Adoum on behalf of the Chadian government to alleviate the situation. “Chad appeals to all States to provide all aid and assistance needed to help it end this aggression,” Adoum wrote Security Council president Ricardo Arias of Panama for the month of February. France's U.N. Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert told the press on Monday that the Council called on all U.N. member states to provide aid and assistance “to the legal government” of Chad. U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said, France has “the expertise and lead on this issue, and should they decide to do more, they have the support of the Security Council.” Khalilzad said he expects the presidential statement “to send a clear message on where the international community is” on this issue.
