U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN ON MONDAY VISITED THE WAR-SCARRED WEST AFRICAN NATION OF SIERRA LEONE, WHERE A U.N. PEACEKEEPING FORCE HAS LEFT BEHIND A SHAKY PEACE NOW THREATENED BY RAMPANT POVERTY. ANNAN, WHO FLEW IN LATE SUNDAY FROM AN AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT IN GAMBIA, WAS EXPECTED TO MEET SIERRA LEONE PRESIDENT AHMED TEJAN KABBAH, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED. A U.N. MILITARY FORCE OF 17,000 LEFT AT THE END OF 2005, HAVING OVERSEEN ELECTIONS AND HELPED IMPOSE PEACE IN SIERRA LEONE AFTER A 1991-2003 CIVIL WAR. BUT ITS WORK COULD BE UNDONE BY WIDESPREAD POVERTY IN A COUNTRY WITH ONE OF THE WORLD'S LOWEST LIFE EXPECTANCY RATES. IRRITATION WITH POOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES LIKE FITFUL ELECTRICITY AND DIRTY DRINKING WATER IS ON THE RISE. «WELCOME MR. ANNAN, WE HOPE YOU WON'T MIND SHARING OUR PERPETUAL BLACKOUT AND OUR FILTHY ENVIRONMENT THAT HAS PUT US AT THE TOP OF THE COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST DEATH RATE IN AFRICA,» THE EXCLUSIVE NEWSPAPER SAID IN AN EDITORIAL ON FRIDAY. «BUT WHO CARES? AFTER ALL, THIS IS AFRICA.» ANNAN IS ALSO EXPECTED TO VISIT THE U.N.-BACKED SIERRA LEONE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL THAT HAS INDICTED NEARLY A DOZEN REBEL LEADERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND THEIR ALLIED MILITIA ON CHARGES LINKED TO ATROCITIES ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED DURING THE WAR. ANNAN, FROM THE NEARBY NATION OF GHANA, WAS ALSO EXPECTED IN THE COMING DAYS TO VISIT LIBERIA AND IVORY COAST, BOTH WITH SIZABLE U.N. PEACE MISSIONS.
