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DATE=5/19/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / SIERRA LEONE TROOPS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262569
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  The United Nations Security Council today 
(Friday) increased the total troop strength for its 
peacekeeping mission in the west African nation of 
Sierra Leone.  V-O-A Correspondent Breck Ardery 
reports from the United Nations.  
TEXT:  In a resolution sponsored by Britain and 
approved unanimously by the Council without debate, 
the military component of the U-N mission in Sierra 
Leone will rise from an authorized strength of 11-
thousand-100 to a maximum of 13-thousand.  Currently, 
there are more than 10-thousand U-N peacekeepers on 
duty there.
The resolution reflects the incremental increases in 
the U-N commitment to Sierra Leone. 
After the Council meeting, British ambassador Jeremy 
Greenstock told reporters it is likely the number of 
U-N troops in Sierra Leone will go even higher.
                 /// GREENSTOCK ACT ///
      You should be aware that the Secretary-General 
      will be issuing a report on Sierra Leone early 
      next week, and the Security Council will debate 
      that report, probably on Wednesday afternoon.  
      That is the time when we will get into a 
      discussion, in informal consultations, on the 
      next step and look at a further ceiling on 
      troops in light of reinforcements that may be 
      arriving over the next few weeks.  So it is a 
      series of steps being taken by the Security 
      Council.
                  /// END ACT ///
Last February, the authorized troop strength was 
raised by five-thousand, and there is talk that the 
total force may soon be increased to as many as 16-
thousand troops.
Mr. Greenstock says when the Council first authorized 
the Sierra Leone operation last year, it was assumed 
that the Revolutionary United Front, led by Foday 
Sankoh, would cooperate with the peace agreement.  
Since that has not been the case, Mr. Greenstock 
observes, the size of the U-N force had to be raised.
Several hundred U-N troops are still being held 
hostage by the rebels in Sierra Leone.  Mr. Sankoh is 
now in the custody of the Sierra Leone government.   
(Signed) 
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/WTW
19-May-2000 12:08 PM EDT (19-May-2000 1608 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.