UN extends Liberia peacekeeping force

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council has extended the UN peacekeeping force in Liberia for another six month, rejecting a recommendation from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for a one-year extension.

A resolution adopted unanimously by the 15-nation council also asked Annan to recommend a timetable for force reductions by March.

Nearly 15,000 peacekeeping troops and about 1,100 international police officers now serve in Liberia.

They are supporting an interim government installed in August 2003 after President Charles Taylor fled into exile in Nigeria after 14 years of on-and-off civil war.

No troop cutbacks are expected before March as Liberians are due to elect a president and parliament in October to replace the interim administration and council members want to ensure stability before and after the vote.

The resolution welcomed progress in the election preparations and called on all Liberian parties "to demonstrate their full commitment to a democratic process of government by ensuring that the upcoming presidential and legislative elections are peaceful, transparent, free and fair."

Without a council vote, the mandate of the UN Mission in Liberia would have expired at the end of the day. It now expires March 31, 2006.

Annan called for a yearlong extension last week, saying in a report to the council that the impoverished West African nation of 3.2 million people was largely calm but its peace process remained fragile.

- REUTERS