The president of Bolivia, Hugo Banzer, has said he is committed to freeing his country from drugs before the end of his mandate, in four years time.

Speaking at the United Nations special session on drugs, Mr Banzer said he would use dialogue to win over the support of Bolivian peasants who cultivate coca.

He said his aim was to offer a better way of gaining a livelihood to thirty-five-thousand families who work in coca plantations.

The Bolivian president appealed to the United Nations to support his country's anti-drug programmes with funds and technical assistance.