Bangladesh and Namibia pledged more than 6,000 troops for a UN peacekeeping force to replace multinational soldiers now deploying in war-torn Liberia, UN officials and diplomats said.

Jacques Paul Klein, the new UN special envoy to Liberia who launched Thursday's appeal for troops, has called for a robust UN force of between 12,000 and 15,000 troops to stabilize the country so democratic elections can be held for a new government.

The UN Security Council has authorized a two-month deployment for the multinational force to help end fighting between troops loyal to President Charles Taylor and rebels trying to oust him — and to provide security once Taylor leaves. The council ordered the multinational contingent to be replaced by a UN peacekeeping force no later than Oct. 1.

But the proposal given to potential troop contributing nations at Thursday's closed-door meeting calls for U.N. peacekeepers to start deploying on Nov. 1, designated as "T Day," according to a copy of the document obtained by The Associated Press.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said last Friday that the United Nations would "do our best" to meet the Oct. 1 deadline, but diplomats said Klein called the date unrealistic.

The UN Peacekeeping Department invited 93 potential troop contributing nations to Thursday's meeting.

"It was good. ... "We obviously need some mechanized infantry ... engineers, communications, hospitals," Klein said as he left the meeting.

Bangladesh later pledged about 4,800 troops and Namibia offered 1,600, UN officials and diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

India, Pakistan, Ireland and South Africa may also provide troops for the UN force, they said.

A vanguard of about 500 Nigerian soldiers from the multinational force arrived in Liberia this week. West African leaders have promised to build up a 3,250-strong force that might include a small US contingent after Taylor leaves.

The UN peacekeeping plan envisions one brigade from the multinational force being "rehatted" as UN peacekeepers on Nov. 1. The entire UN force would be deployed by Feb. 28, 2004.

Klein has described Liberia as "the key to West Africa," and diplomats said he stressed this again on Thursday.

All the "good work" that the British have done in bringing peace to Sierra Leone and the French have done in Ivory Coast "unravels and comes undone unless we stabilize Liberia and bring it back into the family of nations," Klein warned Wednesday.

The UN proposal says the peacekeeping mission's objective "is likely to be along the lines of establishing the conditions under which Liberia is governed by a duly elected democratic government."

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