Rio, May 24, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The first group of Brazilian military personnel who will integrate the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti will embark from Brazil on Friday (28), according to information furnished by the Army's head of Social Communication, General Augusto Heleno Pereira.

98 Army soldiers and 63 Marines will depart on two landing craft, a frigate, and a tanker. The landing craft will transport 12 "urutus" (wheeled armored vehicles), which are expected to arrive in Haiti within 12 days. Also on the 28th another 42 troops from various units will leave Brasília aboard Brazilian Air Force C130 (Hercules) airplanes.

Two more groups of military personnel who will comprise the Brazilian mission will depart on May 31. This contingent includes the commander of the Brazilian forces, Brigadier-General Américo Salvador de Oliveira, commander of the Officer Training School in Rio.

The Brazilian mission will be made up of 1,200 troops. Most of them members of the 19th Motorized Infantry Battalion, based in São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul.

The Brazilian brigade will be stationed in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, for six months. The troops will be in charge of maintaining peace in the country.

Translator: David Silberstein