UNITED NATIONS (AP) A United Nations official is warning that Liberia's police have been unable to take over security responsibilities as a peacekeeping mission in the West African country begins to drawn down.
Karin Landgren praised Liberia for celebrating 10 years of uninterrupted peace on August 18, the anniversary of the end of a 14-year civil war. But she said severe budgetary constraints are preventing Liberia from training police fast enough, raising concerns about the country's ability to maintain stability on its own.
Landgren says only 99 officers graduated in the last year from the Police Academy, even though it was expanded to train 600 a year. The graduation of another 148 recruits has been delayed since May due to budget constraints.
The U.N. representative to Liberia spoke to the Security Council on Tuesday.
