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UNITED NATIONS, April 9 (AFP) - The Security Council authorized Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on Saturday to take all necessary actions to protect the 2,500 UN troops in Rwanda from spiralling violence.
"The Secretary General has our blessing to take whatever decision he feels is necessary in the light of the security of UN personnel," said Colin Keating of New Zealand, the current Security Council president.
At least 1,000 people, including 10 UN soldiers have been killed in the ethnic fighting that broke out Wednesday.
The bloodshed in Rwanda was triggered when presidents Juvenal Habyarimana of Rwanda and Cyprien Ntaryamira of neighboring Burundi were killed with 10 others. Their aircraft crashed in Kigali, reportedly after being shot down.
Earlier Saturday, a rebel spokesman in New York warned Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) troops would attack any foreign troops not conducting humanitarian efforts who remained in Rwanda after foreigners were evacuated.
Rebel spokesman Claude Dusaidi said foreign troops should be able to conclude their operations within 10 to 12 hours. Keating said the evacuation efforts would take longer.
"We will accept a reasonable time, but we haven't given a time frame," he said.
Dusaidi said three RPF columns were heading toward the Rwandan capital, Kigali, to attack Rwandan army forces.
The Security Council made no decision on the future of the UN mission in Rwanda, but will meet on Monday for discussions.
Hundreds of French, Belgian and US troops have been dispatched to the eastern African nation and neighboring countries in an effort to evacuate their citizens.
In Brussels, a Belgian Defense Ministry spokesman said Saturday that Rwandan army units have blocked the runway of the Kigali airport, raising doubts about the mission of 800 Belgian paratroopers bound for Rwanda.
Elements of the Rwandan presidential guard at Kigali airport had ordered vehicles onto the runway on Friday so that aircraft could not land, spokesman Colonel Freddy Van Deweghe said.
He said they removed the vehicles to permit the landing of aircraft carrying 300 French troops in the early hours of Saturday, then blocked off the runway again afterwards.
Boutros-Ghali praised the contrasting calm in Burundi.
"The people of Burundi themselves have responded to the tragedy with exemplary forebearance and restraint. They need and deserve the support and cooperation of the international community," he said at UN headquarters.
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