Guide to the Zaire crisis: Which military units will be going in to help

The forces

Reconnaissance teams from the Western nations leading the international intervention in eastern Zaire have begun arriving in central Africa. The first United States teams arrived on Thursday and the first British reconnaissance team, 43-strong, was due to arrive in Nairobi at 6.30 last night, having flown from Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

The intervention force is deploying under Chapter Seven of the United Nations Charter, in an "enforcement" rather than a peace-keeping role. The troops will concentrate on guaranteeing the delivery of humanitarian aid and helping refugees return home, but will fire back if they or those they are guarding are threatened.

Of the 75 nations represented at the UN meeting in New York, as yet only Canada, the US, Britain, France, Spain and six African countries appear committed to providing troops

The headquarters of operation "Phoenix Tusk" will be Goma, the main airfield and centre of refugee movement. Yesterday, 10,000 refugees from the five camps around Goma were reported to be moving back through the town and south-east into Rwanda, the first of an estimated 300,000-400,000. The operation will be commanded by the 1st Canadian Division, under General Maurice Baril. Canada is sending a force of 1,500 in all.

US troops will also head for Goma. About 1,000 US troops are expected to be deployed on the ground; another 2,000 to 3,000 are expected to be based in Uganda and Kenya.

Britain and France are likely to secure the airport at Buk-avu. Britain plans to send head- quarters of 5 Airborne Brigade, troops from 1st Battalion Parachute regiment and 45 Commando, Royal Marines. MoD sources said yesterday the British force could reach 3,000.