UNITED NATIONS, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's envoy to the United Nations announced Monday that the Sudanese government has approved a UN plan to send attack helicopters to support the African Union (AU) force in war-torn Darfur.

    In a letter addressed to UN chief Ban Ki-moon, Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem, the Sudanese ambassador, said his government has approved "the helicopters component" of the heavy support package for the AU force.

    "It is the sincere hope of the Sudan that implementation of the heavy support package would proceed expeditiously," Abdalhaleem said.

    Ban's press office said members of the UN Security Council have also received copies of the letter. ¡¡