UN chief backs peacekeeping force for Liberia

Declaring it “absolutely essential” to speed up the deployment of an international force to Liberia, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has offered to bring in a Nigerian battalion and spelled out plans to quickly send reinforcements.

In a letter to the UN Security Council, Annan expressed deep concern “at the dramatic deterioration of the situation on the ground” and the delay in starting the deployment of a 1,500-strong West African force that had been expected to be in Liberia by mid-August.