Nations shunning U.N. plea for troops to protect mission

By Paul Richter
Los Angeles Times

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When the U.N. Security Council voted six weeks ago to authorize a protective force, it believed contributors would step forward. But countries have balked at taking part in a force expected to include 1,000 troops and several dozen bodyguards.

Following a 13-day hostage drama, the Philippines finished pulling out its 51 military personnel yesterday, bowing to a militant group's demands for the troop withdrawal in exchange for a Filipino truck driver's life. Norway will withdraw its military personnel from Iraq this month and New Zealand and Thailand are expecting to bring their forces home in September.

"It's a difficult problem for these countries, especially at a time when other countries (with troops in Iraq) are pulling out, or planning to leave ahead of schedule," said one U.N. diplomat. "Discussions are continuing. So far no one has stepped forward."

The United States considers a U.N. mission in Iraq an important step toward making the reconstruction a more international effort. But U.N. officials, still traumatized by the August bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Iraq, said they can't remain in Iraq for long unless they have protection for their personnel and sites.

If other countries are unable to provide the troops, the job will fall to the U.S.-led coalition now patrolling the country. But that outcome would be embarrassing for the Bush administration, which has been struggling all year for ways to show it has international support for rebuilding Iraq.

Once in Iraq, U.N. officials would be responsible for helping prepare for elections in January; arranging for a national conference this summer that will enable Iraqis to choose a 100-member advisory council; and assisting in the drafting of a new constitution.

U.S. officials say they still believe countries will supply troops.

Last week, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan named Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, a Pakistani career diplomat, as the new U.N. envoy to Iraq. One diplomat said that Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Thailand and Australia have been under pressure to contribute troops for U.N. protection. Other troop requests have gone to Algeria, Bahrain, Tunisia, Singapore, Nepal, Ukraine, Malaysia and Jordan, the diplomat said.

But a U.N. official said a large number of countries have been approached about providing troops and other security personnel for the job.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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