New York – The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet Monday to discuss a one-year extension of the UN mission in East Timor, a recommendation by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

In a report to the council Friday, Annan urged the 12-month extension to May 2004, with a phased reduction of peacekeeping forces, citing "increasing proof" of the threat of armed groups seeking to "undermine stability" in the fledgling country.

Diplomats, contacted by Lusa in New York, said the Security Council would likely approve the extension of the UNMISET mission with "no problems". "The international military capacity [in East Timor] will be essential in coming months to promote security and respond in the short term to threats from armed groups whose tactics, weapons and training in a frequently difficult terrain exceed the capacity of any other security force" in the country, Annan said in his report.

He also proposed the gradual pruning of the UN peacekeeping force to 3,500 by July, 3,300 by October and 1,750 by year's end. UNMISET, which also has a civilian and police contingent, would be formally extinguished in May of next year, two years after it was set up at East Timor's independence.