BRITISH Foreign Secretary Robin Cook promised Sierra Leone on Thursday that Britain was ”ready to go the distance” to maintain stability in the West African nation after the imminent withdrawal of most British troops. ”I have assured President (Ahmad Tejan) Kabbah that Britain wants to be a long-term partner in securing a stable, successful, enterprising Sierra Leone,” Cook told journalists after talks with Kabbah at the State House in Freetown. ”Britain is ready to go the distance until we have achieved our joint objective of a lasting security.” Cook said British troops, who are due to withdraw next week, would pull out on schedule because they had carried out their aim of ensuring British nationals could get out safely and that UN forces could get in. Cook has pledged that Britain will work with Kabbah’s government to rebuild the army and choke off the flow of illicit diamonds which fund rebel forces who last month marched towards the capital, Freetown.