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Indian women police going places

— PHOTO: AFP

SERVING THE WORLD: Indian policewomen, constituting a U.N. first all-women peacekeeping force, arrive at Monrovia's Roberts international airport on Tuesday.

Monrovia: The United Nation's first women-only peacekeeping contingent — made up of about 100 Indian policewomen — arrived in Liberia on Tuesday, officials said.

Ben Malor, spokesman for the U.N.'s 15,000-strong peacekeeping force in the West African country, said the force would be stationed in the capital. Women have served in many U.N. peacekeeping forces, but this is the first women-only group.

Members of the group said they hoped that women and children in conflict zones would consider them more approachable.

The group may be particularly welcome in Liberia, where relief groups accused U.N. peacekeepers and aid workers of trading food for sex with girls left homeless by war last year. The United Nations has, since, instituted strong policies to prevent sexual exploitation in the country. About 20 men were accompanying the group of 103 women to provide logistical support. — AP

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