President Kabbah wants UN force to stay longer

Sierra Leonean President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah has asked the United Nations to extend the mandate of its peace keeping force (UNAMSIL) by several months, before commencing a gradual withdrawal.

Kabbah, in a letter on Monday to the Secretary General Koffi Annan, said UNAMSIL should stay longer because the country was at a critical juncture and faced threats from Liberia.

"The escalating conflict in Liberia is threatening to destabilize the entire area once again," Kabbah wrote. "The withdrawal process should be linked to...the fragile political and security situation in Liberia and the repercussions for peace and stability in the region."

Kabbah called for a postponement of at least three months beyond the Sept. 30 deadline, adding that the proceedings of a war-crimes tribunal expected to begin next year, would demand tight security.

On 21 August, the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Oluyemi Adeniji, told diplomats in Sierra Leone that UNAMSIL's continued stay was linked to the attainment of benchmarks that would reinforce peace in the country. These included the ability of the police and army to maintain security.

The main external threat Sierra Leone faces results from the continuing war between the Liberian government and rebels fighting to topple President Charles Taylor.

Apart from triggering massive movement of refugees and displaced people, the Sierra Leone government fears that the war has drawn in former rebels of the Revolutionary United Front, who were supported by Taylor during Sierra Leone's 10-year war.

Some armed elements of the Liberian army have also crossed to into Sierra Leone to escape the fighting and surrendered to authorities.

The Security Council is expected to announce plans for the future of the 17,000 strong UNAMSIL force at the end of September.