"Instead of funding UNAMSIL, the U.S should provide military help to Nigeria to end the conflict in Sierra Leone," Rogers proposed, indicating that it is unwise to fund UNAMSIL which has a mandate to keep peace when there is yet no peace to keep in Sierra Leone.

A sum total of $241m meant to restore funding for U.N operations in Sierra Leone and elsewhere was on Monday blocked by Republican members in the US Congress.

White House had requested the said amount for U.N operations next year above the current $500 but was vehemently opposed and blocked by Republican Harold Rogers. "The U.N had been too free in deploying costly missions, often sending inadequately trained peacekeeping troops into situations which called for military troops instead," Rogers blasted.

He insisted that the bill would not bar funding for peacekeeping in Africa but would require that peace first be established to avoid a repeat of the capture of over 500 troops in Sierra Leone.

"Understand the limitations that the U.N. has in bringing about peace. They can negotiate, they can keep the peace once it is established. They are not a war-fighting organization," said Rogers.

To him, Nigeria is capable of achieving peace for the UN to keep in Sierra Leone. All Nigeria requires is the essential funding to have its troops here.

A western diplomat told Concord Times yesterday that Rogers' proposal was receiving the due consideration of the Clinton administration. "Clinton may soon shift a bit from his all through pacifist posture," he said.