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Security Council Extends Mandate of Liberia Peace Mission
Awaiting further recommendations for a drawdown of troops following positive developments in Liberia, the Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in that country (UNMIL) until the end of September.
By a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council also prolonged the temporary increase in UNMIL's staffing ceiling to a total of 15,250 military personnel until that same date to ensure that the support provided to the special court trying war crimes in Sierra Leone did not reduce UNMIL's strength in Liberia during its critical transition period following a long and brutal civil war.
In his latest report to the Security Council, which deals specifically with recommendations for the UNMIL drawdown, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says that despite "considerable overall improvement" in security, the mission was still needed to help cement peace and stability.
In the report, Mr. Annan recommends reductions in UNMIL's military component, but advocates police strength be increased at the same time, to provide "a reliable security umbrella" for the new Government led by Ellen Sirleaf Johnson to fully establish its authority and to give the Liberian Police Support Unit experience it needs to eventually take over from UNMIL.
Source: United Nations News Centre
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