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UN appeals to nations to contribute troops to Liberia
United Nations, Aug 08: The United Nations has appealed to more than 90 countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa and Ireland, to contribute peacekeepers to help stabilise the situation in Liberia without which, it says, the entire region could be destabilised.
United Nations, Aug 08: The United Nations has appealed to more than 90 countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa and Ireland, to contribute peacekeepers to help stabilise the situation in Liberia without which, it says, the entire region could be destabilised.
The world body is planning for a 12,000 to 15,000 strong UN peacekeeping force to replace the current Security Council mandated multinational troops, mostly from Nigeria, by November 1.
Diplomats said that Bangladesh promised 4,800 troops and Namibia 1,600 for the force together which would mean almost half of the projected UN peacekeeping contingent.
The peacekeepers are expected to go in with a robust mandate which means they would be authorised to use force in a variety of situations and well armed. The appeal, diplomats say, was made by new UN envoy to Liberia Jacques Paul Klein. The Security Council wants the UN peacekeepers to be deployed by October 1 but diplomat and officials at the world body say the deadline is unrealistic. Klein and other officials, diplomats say, are working to start deploying peacekeepers only by November 1.
The council has authorised the multinational force for only two months with the aim of ending fighting between government troops and rebels and facilitating the departure of President Charles Taylor who had pledged to leave power only after peacekeepers arrive.
Bureau Report
Diplomats said that Bangladesh promised 4,800 troops and Namibia 1,600 for the force together which would mean almost half of the projected UN peacekeeping contingent.
The peacekeepers are expected to go in with a robust mandate which means they would be authorised to use force in a variety of situations and well armed. The appeal, diplomats say, was made by new UN envoy to Liberia Jacques Paul Klein. The Security Council wants the UN peacekeepers to be deployed by October 1 but diplomat and officials at the world body say the deadline is unrealistic. Klein and other officials, diplomats say, are working to start deploying peacekeepers only by November 1.
The council has authorised the multinational force for only two months with the aim of ending fighting between government troops and rebels and facilitating the departure of President Charles Taylor who had pledged to leave power only after peacekeepers arrive.
Bureau Report