Annan pressures US to intervene in Liberia bloodshed

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan kept up pressure on the United States to lead intervention in Liberia yesterday as troops strengthened defences around battle-worn Monrovia in fear of another bloody rebel attack.

West African countries pledged troops for a peacekeeping force on Sund o prevent a blood-bath in the capital and end nearly 14 years of violence that have infected the impoverished region.

“There are lots of expectations that the United States will be able to lead the force,” Mr Annan told reporters in Geneva. “But that is a sovereign decision for them to take.”