U.N. Leader Surveys Cambodia Peace Effort

U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali arrived in Cambodia on Saturday to survey the United Nations’ biggest peacekeeping mission and warned rival factions that the peace program’s success depends on them.

Boutros-Ghali said in a brief speech at Phnom Penh airport that Cambodia’s suffering and courage had inspired the compassion of the world.

The United Nations “will accompany the Cambodian people on their march toward peace and democracy,” he said.

But he added: “Success will depend on the degree of cooperation of all Khmer factions.”

Diplomats said his comments appeared to be mainly directed at the Communist Khmer Rouge guerrilla faction.

The chief of the U.N. mission in Cambodia said recently that the Khmer Rouge’s refusal to allow peacekeepers into their zones was frustrating the U.N. program.

The Khmer Rouge initiated fighting last month in northern Kompong Thom province and have fired on a U.N. helicopter, wounding an Australian colonel.

The peacekeeping force began moving into Cambodia after the Vietnamese-backed government and three allied guerrilla factions supported by China and the United States signed a U.N.-brokered peace accord in October.

About 16,000 soldiers from across the globe and 7,000 civilian personnel should be in place by June. They will disarm the factions, monitor a cease-fire and organize elections.