UN chief warns of new peacekeeping threats

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the world body's peacekeeping efforts face growing dangers from non-traditional threats such as suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices.
Ban told reporters on a visit to a peacekeeping training base near the Chinese capital today that the body must ensure that peacekeepers have the necessary training and specialised skills to face the new threats.
He said peacekeepers need to react rapidly and gather and analyse information on remote areas. He said that to ensure that capability, the UN is for the first time deploying drones to its mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Ban also praised China's commitment to peacekeeping efforts. China has dispatched 22,000 troops to 23 missions, more than the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council combined.