UN boost for Freetown forces

British helicopters have been test-firing missiles

Soldiers have begun arriving in Sierra Leone to reinforce the multinational peacekeeping force, as the UN chief calls for thousands more troops to be sent in.

The first of the reinforcements flew in to the capital, Freetown, on Sunday. The extra forces, from Zambia, Bangladesh and India, will take the total force to 13,000, an increase of 2,000.

In a report to the Security Council obtained by the BBC, Secretary-General Kofi Annan is calling for another 3,500 more UN peacekeepers.

He also suggested widening the current sanctions on Sierra Leone to stop rebel leaders profiting from the illegal exploitation of diamonds.

A soldier from the Masiaka front line is given cigarettes

The arriving reinforcements are expected to be used to boost an offensive against the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) along the main road out of Freetown.

The UN forces are moving forward behind Sierra Leone army lines, to hold the ground recaptured by government forces.

The rebels are thought to be holding some 334 UN soldiers - mostly Zambians - who disappeared in early May.

Around 150 other peacekeepers being held by the RUF were freed last week and released in neighbouring Liberia.

Annan's proposal

Mr Annan's report is due out officially at the beginning of this week, but an advance copy has been obtained by the BBC.

Further UN reinforcements

UN increasing peacekeepers from 11,000 to 13,000

New proposed strength of 16,500

Adding two infantry battalions, a logistics battalion, a light artillery unit, helicopter gunships and armed patrol boats

BBC New York correspondent Mark Devenport says Mr Annan believes 16,500 troops would be sufficient to enable the UN to gradually deploy forward, but not to take over the strongholds of the rebel RUF.

Mr Annan says if the mandate of the UN soldiers is changed to authorise them to impose peace throughout the country, then the number of peacekeepers would need to increase yet again.

The secretary-general acknowledges in his reports that the past few weeks have revealed many problems concerning the command and control of the UN force and the preparedness and equipment of its peacekeepers.

Cutting off rebel finance

In a move aimed at undercutting the financial base of the rebel RUF, the Mr Annan suggests considering widening the present sanctions against the rebels to prevent their commanders reaping the benefit of the illegal exploitation of Sierra Leone's diamonds.

It is widely believed that the UN's intention to deploy closer to the crucial diamond mining areas was an important factor in sparking the current crisis.