UN warns Liberian rebel grouping

The UN says it will deploy troops

The United Nations has warned Liberia's Lurd rebels not to prevent the latest deployment of peacekeepers.

UN envoy Abou Moussa warned of political and economic consequences if the UN forces were again blocked.

Mr Moussa has told the rebels the deployment was not up for negotiation and should not be linked to appointments to government posts.

On Thursday, Lurd prevented UN forces from crossing the Po River bridge 20 kilometres from Monrovia.

The rebels said they had not been consulted.

'Helpful'

The 270-strong Pakistani contingent had been trying to reach Kle Junction in Tubmanburg County.

This movement was blocked half-way by Lurd rebels.

The week-long delay is totally unacceptable Abou Moussa

The UN, which has about 7,000 troops in Liberia, most of them in or near the capital, is trying to reach more parts of the country to monitor a peace deal signed in August.

Mr Moussa reportedly contrasted the obstructive attitude of Lurd with the co-operative attitude of the Model rebels, who have invited blue helmet troops to enter its stronghold in south-eastern Liberia immediately.

Lurd spokesman Jurah "Marine" Sarnor had said his movement would not accept the deployment of UN peacekeepers inside its territory until 2 January at the earliest. He denied the rebels were "fighting for jobs" in the new broad-based transitional government led by Gyude Bryant.

But Mr Moussa described the week-long delay as "totally unacceptable".

Disarmament problems

This is not the first time UN peacekeepers have encountered obstacles in Liberia.

UN troops started to disarm fighters loyal to former President Charles Taylor at Schieffelin barracks near Monrovia on 7 December, when it had only 5,000 of its planned 15,000 men in place.

But the force had to suspend the programme 10 days later after riots by former combatants who demanded money for handing in their guns.

The UN agreed to pay $75 in cash for every weapon surrendered as the first instalment of a total demobilisation allowance of $300.

However, the UN troops allegedly found themselves unable to cope with the 11,000 fighters who came to hand in their guns at a facility that was only designed to cope with 1,000 people at a time.

The disarmament programme has been suspended until 20 January.