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.