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| East/Subsaharan Africa |
| US debates Liberia peace force |
| 2003-07-01 |
| Top US officials are meeting on Tuesday to discuss whether to join international peacekeepers in Liberia. Nooooooooooooooo! The move follows calls by the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, welcoming US participation in a multilateral force in the war-torn west African country. In a television interview, US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, outlined "deep concerns" about the worsening situation in the nation. "We are looking at a variety of options and plans," he said. "But no decisions have been made yet except that we are concerned with the situation in Liberia and concerned as well with the safety of our people in Liberia, but really for the suffering that the Liberian people are going through right now." The UN is actively seeking to build the peacekeeping team on the ground with action being led by the British ambassador to the UN, Sir Jeremy Greenstock. Mr Greenstock said there were "big obstacles on the way to peace" for the war-torn Liberia. His proposal would have West African nations give 3,000 troops for what would be a 5,000-strong force to separate forces of Liberian President Charles Taylor and rebels. West African leaders have in turn asked the United States to contribute 2,000 troops to the peace force and want US President George Bush to decide before he makes his first African visit next month. Just say no. |
| Posted by:Steve |