UN assessment team maps out reduction of mission in Sierra Leone

An assessment team is in Sierra Leone evaluating the benchmarks for the reduction of the United Nations mission (UNAMSIL) in the country by the end of the year given the increasingly stable security situation there after a decade of conflict.

The team will make a comprehensive assessment of the security sector and identify major gaps that the mission may have no time to fill by 31 December. It may suggest a post-mission team to complete those tasks.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will make similar recommendations on the country in his March report to the Security Council.

According to Mr. Annan's earlier recommendations, starting in November 2003, troop strength would be reduced to 11,500 from 12,311 in August 2003 and 16,900 in November 2002. By October 2004 troop strength is expected to stand at 5,000.