Liberia is "basically destroyed" and its only hope is for the international community to quickly send more money and soldiers to stop the killing, the UN special representative to Liberia said Thursday.

Jacques Klein, an American, welcomed news that Nigeria planned to send the first troops of a multinational force, but expressed doubt they could arrive within the promised seven days.

Klein also welcomed the US decision to provide $10 million to help the peacekeeping force deploy and urged the United States to play a greater role.

"In Liberia, now we stand between two options: hope and disaster," he said after briefing the Security Council behind closed doors.

Rebels in Liberia are battling to oust Charles Taylor, a warlord-turned-president who launched the country into 14 years of near-perpetual conflict in 1989. Fighting in the capital Monrovia has killed hundreds of civilians since Saturday.

The United States has not said whether it would contribute soldiers the peacekeeping force in Liberia, a major African Cold War ally of the United States that was founded in the 19th century by freed American slaves.

John Negroponte, the US ambassador indicated the United States would not send troops.

"My understanding is that the decision in principle has been made," he said. "The two battalions that have been identified are Nigerian battalions. We've decided to provide the material support that I just mentioned to you, the $10 million."

West African leaders have announced they would send the two battalions, up to 1,300 men, ahead of what would eventually be 3,250-member force to separate the warring sides.

Klein said the two battalions weren't enough to secure Liberia and more money was desperately needed. "The country is basically destroyed," Klein said.

(China Daily   July 25, 2003)