UN pressures UK over Sierra Leone

Britain is trying to persuade NATO allies to join the force

By the BBC's UN correspondent Mark Devenport

Britain has been coming under pressure to strengthen its commitment to the United Nations' peace-keeping force in Sierra Leone, after India withdrew its troops.

India's decision to pull 3,000 soldiers out of Sierra Leone has plunged the already-troubled peacekeeping force there into a new crisis.

This has been compounded by a threat from another troop contributor, Jordan, to follow suit if at least one developed nation does not become involved.

As Sierra Leone's former colonial power, Britain has been trying to persuade some of its Nato allies to join the force.

The UN force, under strength, has suffered several humiliations

But other countries want to know why their troops should put on the UN's blue helmets when Britain will not let its own soldiers serve under the UN flag.

The strong British contingent which landed in Freetown in May stayed under UK command and the same applies to the 300 soldiers now training the Sierra Leone army.

British diplomats are ruling out sending a battalion, but they say there may be scope for increased British involvement at officer level at the UN's headquarters in Freetown.

Government dilemma

UN sources say even a British force commander has not been entirely ruled out.

It is believed Canada and the Netherlands, who have indicated their willingness to serve in the UN's new peacekeeping force in the Horn of Africa, are also being sounded out about switching their commitment to Sierra Leone.

For the government, the dilemma is balancing Tony Blair's strong support for more robust peacekeeping and Britain's historic responsibilities towards Sierra Leone, against potential political opposition to any deeper commitment in a conflict which has already claimed the life of one British soldier.

Earlier this month British paratroops stormed a compound held by the renegade West Side Boys militia and freed six British soldiers and a local army liaison officer who had been held hostage.

The troops fell into wrong hands after going on a reconaissance mission. One paratrooper was killed during the raid.