BERLIN, JUNE 1, SPA -- GERMAN PARLIAMENT ON THURSDAY GAVE FINALAPPROVAL TO THE GOVERNMENT’S PLAN TO DEPLOY NEARLY 800TROOPS AS PART OF A EUROPEAN MISSION TO CONGO THAT WILLSUPPORT U.N. PEACEKEEPERS DURING ELECTIONS, AP REPORTED. GERMANY WILL CONTRIBUTE 500 SOLDIERS TO THE EU FORCE, ASWELL AS 280 SUPPORT TROOPS FOR MEDICAL AND LOGISTICALTASKS, ACCORDING TO THE PLAN. THE TOTAL SIZE OF THE EUFORCE IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT 1,700. FRANCE IS EXPECTED TO SEND 500 TROOPS, AND ANOTHER 16 OFTHE 25 EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERS HAVE AGREED TO CONTRIBUTE INSOME WAY, DEFENSE MINISTER FRANZ JOSEF JUNG HAS SAID. THE CONGO MISSION IS SLATED TO BEGIN JULY 30, THE DAY THECENTRAL AFRICAN COUNTRY’S ELECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED TO START,AND LAST FOUR MONTHS. MUCH OF THE EU FORCE WILL BE ONSTANDBY IN NEARBY GABON. THE ELECTIONS FOR PRESIDENT AND THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WILLBE CONGO’S FIRST IN 40 YEARS. THE VIOLENCE-PLAGUED NATIONHAS DELAYED THE VOTE REPEATEDLY FOR LOGISTICAL REASONS. PARLIAMENT VOTED 440 IN FAVOR OF THE MISSION, WITH 135AGAINST AND SIX ABSTENTIONS.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/365495