Vienna - Austria is set to extend the humanitarian mission of its troops in Chad until the end of 2009, the foreign ministry said Monday.

Austrian troops are currently deployed as part of the European Union's peacekeeping operation which helps refugees and maintains security in the region.

In mid-March, when the mandate of the current 3,300 EU peacekeepers expires, a United Nations peacekeeping operation is set to take its place, the UN Security Council decided last week.

Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger and Defence Minister Norbert Darabos are set to propose at a cabinet meeting in the near future to keep the 160 Austrian troops in Chad.

The number of refugees in the African country is estimated at 1.2 million, including some 290,000 refugees from the troubled Darfur region in neighbouring Sudan, and some
180,000 displaced in Chad itself. (dpa)