Dili – United Nations Secretary- General Kofi Annan has recommended that the UN's peacekeeping mission in East Timor continues after its planned May withdrawal, but with a significant reduction in personnel.

Lusa has seen a report prepared by Annan on the UN's role in Timor beyond its scheduled May 20 pullout and this document will guide discussions between the 15 members of the UN Security Council, who meet Friday to recommend the scale of the extended mission.

In his report, Annan describes the one-year prolongment of the UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) as a "consolidation phase". Outlining his plans for the UN's future support to Timor's civil structures, Annan recommended "the extension of UNMISET for another year in a reduced form and with another type of mandate".

"I recommend the maintenance of a group of 58 civil advisors to support public administration and the judicial system".

A UN 1,750-strong peacekeeping force is currently stationed in Timor and Annan said only 310 "blue berets" should remain in the nation after May 20.

The trimmed down force of peacekeepers would be deployed in "border areas" and have "rapid reaction capability" with an airborne infantry company, he said.

Annan also proposed that he UN's police force in Timor, currently comprising about 500 officers, should be reduced to just 157 personal and have the main role of advising Timor's national force.

Forty-two military liaison officers would also be required in the enclave of Oecussi and border regions, he said, with the UN police and military liaison teams being protected by the main peacekeeping force.

The UN Security Council will only take a final decision of Annan's proposals in March, but observers in Dili said this week's talks on the scale of the extended mission "will give a true picture" of the world body's presence in Timor after May 20.