Peacekeeping inspectors arrive in Liberia

An advance inspection team of a long-promised multi-national peacekeeping force flew into Liberia’s besieged capital as explosions and gunfire rocked Monrovia, despite a new rebel ceasefire pledge.

Pressure mounted yesterday to get a peace force on the ground. The United States asked the United Nations Security Council to authorise what would be a west African-led force, quickly followed with a UN force by October 1.