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Strategies & Market Trends : Africa and its Issues- Why Have We Ignored Africa? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (260)	1/17/2004 6:48:29 PM
From: epicure	Respond to of 1267

France Seeks U.N. Forces in Ivory Coast Fri Jan 16, 9:16 PM ET By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer UNITED NATIONS - France introduced a resolution calling for a 6,240-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in war-divided Ivory Coast, but the United States on Friday expressed reservations about the size and said it wants to examine the justification for the deployment. Ivory Coast's nine-month civil war officially ended in July, but the nation remains divided between rebel-held north and government-held south. A 2003 peace process brokered in France has never fully taken hold and more than 4,000 French and 1,000 West African troops are helping to keep the peace. The French draft, circulated late Thursday, follows Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites)'s recommendation for a peacekeeping mission with 6,240 troops, including 200 military observers and 120 staff officers. It would also authorize an international civilian police contingent, though no number was specified. "We have some reservations about the numbers," U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said Friday. "We had heard much lower numbers earlier on, so we really want to take a hard look at that." The United States also wants to study Annan's report to the Security Council earlier this month justifying the deployment of U.N. troops, Negroponte said. Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo and West African leaders have urged the United Nations (news - web sites) to take over the West African peacekeeping mission. In the report, the secretary-general said West African peacekeepers are overstretched and requests for more money from donor nations haven't been answered. But Annan said his recommendation for a U.N. force was contingent on the rebels and government showing progress in getting the peace process back on track by Feb. 4. Ivory Coast, a former French colony, for decades stood as West Africa's most stable and prosperous country. It remains the world's largest cocoa producer, but a 1999 coup has ushered in political, regional, ethnic and religious tensions and violence. The draft resolution would authorize the U.N. force to monitor the cease-fire and assist the transitional power-sharing government in disarming and repatriating the former combatants. It would also help the government extend its authority throughout the country and prepare for elections in 2005. France has been pressing for approval of the draft resolution by Feb. 4, exactly a year after the Security Council authorized the French force to help enforce the shaky truce. The United Nations now has a small mission in Ivory Coast — 71 military liaison officers who are working with the rebels and the government, as well as with the French and West African peacekeepers. French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who discused the Ivory Coast with Annan, said she stressed "the need for this deployment to be done rapidly," particularly since elections will take place in 18 months. But Negroponte said "I don't think we can reach a decision by Feb. 4."