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DATE=8/1/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SIERRA LEONE / U-N (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265028
BYLINE=LARRY FREUND
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
INTRO:  U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a report 
released today (Tuesday), calls the situation in 
Sierra Leone dangerous and volatile although he says 
there have been some improvements in the country. Mr. 
Annan says he will propose a strengthening of the U-N 
peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone in about two 
weeks. More from correspondent Larry Freund in New 
York. 
TEXT:  Mr. Annan, in a report to the U-N Security 
Council, says the peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone 
has demonstrated its capacity assertively and has 
reinforced its hold on strategic areas and access 
roads. In May, rebels in Sierra Leone held some 500 
peacekeepers for several weeks before they were 
released and in July about 200 additional peacekeepers 
were rescued by U-N troops backed by helicopter 
gunships.
In his new report on Sierra Leone, Secretary-General 
Annan says the situation in the country remains 
dangerous. U-N spokesman Manoel de Alemeida e Silva:
            /// ALEMEIDA e SILVA  ///
      The Secretary-General reports that the threat 
      posed by the Revolutionary United Front, the R-
      U-F, remains a matter of grave concern, with the 
      group showing no credible sign that it would be 
      ready to resume the peace process and (it is) 
      continuing attacks on the U-N mission and pro-
      government forces.
            /// END ACTUALITY ///
Secretary-General Annan is requesting the extension of 
the peacekeeping mandate in Sierra Leone for another 
six months after it expires Monday (8/7). Mr. Annan 
also expects to request the strengthening of the 
peacekeeping mission. The current mission has a 
maximum authorized strength of 13 thousand. Diplomats 
have discussed raising the troop level to 16-thousand-
500. The U-S representative to the United Nations, 
Richard Holbrooke, has said the United States supports 
a strengthening of the mission's tasks as well as 
increasing the size of the mission to meet those 
additional tasks. 
A United Nations panel that investigated the 
peacekeeping operations says some of its military 
units showed a lack of training and others had serious 
shortfalls in equipment, while essential military 
support units were lacking. (Signed)
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Source: Voice of America
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