But averting genocide may require a United Nations military presence.

But there is no clear mandate, and few here hold much hope that the United Nations presence will make a major difference.

There has been no United Nations presence in the area for months because of looting by fighters who previously held the town.

Today, officials were calling for volunteers to stay behind and maintain a United Nations presence if an evacuation was necessary.

Without a disarmament, he warned, the United Nations presence "is over and done with."

The United Nations presence here has given that government a certain legitimacy.

It grew rampant with the large United Nations presence in 1992 and 1993.

Local politicians blow hot and cold over the United Nations presence, but all try to use the mission for whatever they can get.

So can the war be ended with a United Nations presence whose ambitions will clearly now become more modest?

He could threaten to pull them out, in an effort to undermine the legitimacy of the United Nations presence.