The United Nations security council authorised a wide-ranging UN mission to Haiti yesterday with more than 8,000 troops and police as well as political and human rights experts to help to stabilise the Caribbean country. The UN mission will start on June 1 for an initial period of six months, but the council said it intends to renew the mandate, a signal of its agreement with the secretary general, Kofi Annan, that a long-term UN commitment is essential to turn Haiti into "a functioning democracy". The unanimous resolution authorised up to 6,700 troops and 1,622 international police, but officials stress that it will take time to reach those levels.
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The UN contingent will replace the 3,600-strong US-led multinational force sent to Haiti after a rebellion led the country's first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to flee. The resolution commended the rapid deployment of the multinational force.
Declaring that the US was "very pleased" with the resolution, the US deputy ambassador, Stuart Holliday, said it "will be an important step to get potential troop contributors to come forward". Many countries were waiting for "a strong financial statement" from the council," he said. The resolution allows the UN mission to use military force if needed. |