United Nations, July 25: Nigeria prepared to send some 1,300 peacekeepers within two weeks to Liberia where fierce fighting between rebels and forces loyal to president Charles Taylor left hundreds of people dead in the past week.
The first 774-member battalion was expected in Liberia within a week with the united nations providing transportation facilities along with its operations in sierra Leone. The Nigerian force was part of the peacekeeping mission undertaken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The move is expected to pave the way for Taylor to give up power. A UN backed court has indicted him on charges of crimes against humanity. Nigeria also agreed to provide another 600 to 700 troops provided logistics can be arranged after a strong appeal by secretary-general Kofi Annan who has also lobbied with the United States to provide troops. President George W Bush has promised to support the mission by West African countries but has not decided to so far the type of backing US would provide.

Diplomats say that the Nigerian decision would force Washington to show its hand especially if Taylor steps down, something the United States had been demanding.

Concerned about the worsening situation in Liberia, members of the United Nations Security Council yesterday welcomed the pending deployment of a West African force to the war-torn nation, including troops from Nigeria.

Bureau Report.