UN chief proposes reduction in force in Haiti

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recommends a 15 percent reduction in the number of U.N. troops in Haiti and an examination of whether a peacekeeping operation is still the best way to support the impoverished nation, a report showed Tuesday. Ban said in a report to the U.N. Security Council that he intends to discuss with Haiti's government and member states the best way for the United Nations to continue contributing to "greater stability and development in the country." The secretary-general said that he will explore the option of replacing the peacekeeping mission, known as MINUSTAH, "with a smaller, more focused assistance mission by 2016" and include proposals on the way forward in his next report in March 2014. In the meantime, Ban recommended reducing MINUSTAH's military strength from 6,270 to 5,021 by June 2014.