Military

DATE=9/9/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-307300

TITLE=LIBERIA / PEACEKEEPERS (L-O)

BYLINE=SARAH SIMPSON

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT:

VOICED AT:

INTRO: In Liberia, a small team from the West African peacekeeping force is investigating new rumors of fighting that have for a second time blocked the deployment of peacekeeping forces beyond the capital. Sarah Simpson reports from the V-O-A West Africa bureau in Abidjan.

TEXT: The main peacekeeping units are still in Monrovia, but a small group has moved north from the capital to investigate the reports of renewed fighting. West African commanders say they will decide how to proceed after they receive the report from the reconnaissance group.

The last few hundred West African peacekeeping forces are still arriving in Monrovia this week. The force is due to reach its full size of 35 hundred men by Wednesday.

But the West African troops are not expected to bring security throughout Liberia unassisted. According to the U-N special representative to Liberia, Jacques Klein, it will take an international force of some 15 thousand soldiers to do that.

The continued lack of security is hurting the humanitarian aid effort. Aid workers are reporting that their donations are being refused by some villagers who are frightened that the supplies of food and blankets will attract more unwanted rebel or militia attacks.

In addition, much of Liberia remains out of the reach of aid workers. Aside from the security issues, there are serious logistical challenges to distributing aid in Liberia. The country is densely forested, and years of civil war have destroyed the national infrastructure, making travel and communications extremely difficult.

(SIGNED)

NEB/SS/AWP/RH/KL