MONROVIA: The deployment of several hundred West African peacekeepers to Liberia's volatile interior was postponed because government troops have yet to withdraw from the area, a top peacekeeping official said.

Government troops must leave the checkpoints in and around the north-central town of Kakata, Colonel Theophilus Tawiah, the peace force's Ghanian chief of staff, said on Saturday.

"We want to get between (rebel) forces and government troops," Tawiah said. He blamed "a lack of co-ordination" with defence officials for the delay.

Defence Minister Daniel Chea said government troops would pull out of the town. "It requires scrutiny so that it is done properly," Chea said.

The deployment, now set for today, will establish the peacekeepers' first substantial foothold outside the capital since arriving in the war-shattered nation to bolster security on August 4.

About 650 peacekeepers had been due to leave Monrovia on Saturday for Kakata and the nearby town of Totota, Tawiah said. Before the trip was called off, peacekeepers had boarded a dozen trucks and armoured personnel carriers. They later returned to barracks.

North-central Liberia has been among the most troubled spots in the country since the peace force landed ahead of an August 18 peace deal which has largely brought calm to the capital.

Agencies via Xinhua

(China Daily 09/08/2003 page1)