Citation
BRUSSELS, April 9 (Reuter) - Belgian paratroops on their way to Rwanda to evacuate foreigners from the embattled former African colony may be unable to land in the capital Kigali, officials said on Saturday.
The officials, who asked not to be identified, said the Rwandan government was concerned about the presence of Belgian troops in the city and feared that they might become involved in the fighting there.
Instead, the planes carrying troops and equipment could be diverted to Nairobi or Bujumbura, the capital of neighbouring Burundi where U.S. Marines have deployed, the officials said.
``We are not sure yet but it certainly looks possible that we will not be able to get our people into Kigali directly,'' said one official.
French troops flew in to secure Kigali airport earlier on Saturday, preparing for the possible evacuation of some 600 French nationals in the country. Rwanda has been torn apart by a civil war along ethnic lines.
(c) Reuters Limited 1994
