President Thabo Mbeki has indicated that he is ready to respond positively to requests to contribute South African troops to a UN-led peacekeeping force in Liberia, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said the president was ready to contribute to the force, but this was first subject to Parliamentary and Cabinet approval.
The move follows requests from United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, African Union chairman Joachim Chissano and Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) chairman John Kufuor.
Ecowas has been brokering peace talks between Liberia’s belligerents. Former Liberian president Charles Taylor stepped down on Monday and his deputy Moses Blah has now taken over. Taylor has since left the country.
His resignation was a key demand of rebels who have taken over four-fifths of the country of 3,3-million people and laid siege to the capital for over two months. – Sapa