BUJUMBURA, June 14 (Reuters) - Burundi will deploy a long-awaited battalion of peacekeepers to Somalia next month after African Union (AU) officials confirmed the force was ready to go, Burundi's military spokesman said on Thursday.

Hit by a simmering Iraq-style insurgency, Somalia's interim government has called for a peacekeeping force to help it impose its authority on the chaotic Horn of Africa nation.

Burundi's army spokesman, Col. Adolphe Manirakiza, said AU officials checked this week on his men's readiness to join some 1,600 Ugandan troops already patrolling in Mogadishu.

"The team was satisfied by the technical preparation of our soldiers and confirmed that the first battalion could leave in July," Manirakiza said.

Burundi's deployment has been delayed several times because financial and logistical problems, Burundian officials say.

Manirakiza said France would airlift the troops to Somalia, while the United States was providing some military equipment including uniforms, boots and bullet-proof jackets and helmets.

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