RP asked to head E. Timor UN force

RP asked to head E. Timor UN force

MANILA (AFP): United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has
asked the Philippines and one other country to take command of a
United Nations peacekeeping force that would be deployed in East
Timor next year, Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said here on
Wednesday.

Siazon told reporters Annan asked Manila and at least one
other country, which he did not name, to lead the soon to be
formed UN force to maintain security under he UN Transitional
Authority in East Timor (UNTAET).

He said the UN force would take over from an Australian-led
multinational force now in the former Portuguese territory, the
International Force for East Timor (Interfet), which was
sanctioned by the UN Security Council in September to restore law
and order there after residents voted to break away from
Indonesia.

The 7,000-plus force, which includes about 600 Filipino
soldiers, are under the command of Australian Major-General Peter
Cosgrove. Siazon said the turnover of command was likely to take
place next January.