No justification in Annan’s aspersions on Jetley — India

"He has been praised by one and all for his high quality of leadership that he has provided so far to the multinational force in Sierra Leone," it said.

All his actions have been fully supported by UN Peacekeeping Department consistently and there was no justification for casting aspersions on his capabilities as military commander and team leader, the statement said.

Meanwhile, an army spokesman said the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone had released a large number of UN Peacekeepers, including nine Indian army personnel.

"With this, the number of Indian detainees has reduced to 23 personnel and they are reported to be in good health,” he said.

According to reports from UN, Annan, in a interview to the New York Times, said, "There’s tension in the command. Everybody who’s met Jetley say that he’s a very good officer. But some of the commanders complain that he just gives orders, implying that there is no consultation."

"The commander should be not only a good commander," Annan said. "He has to be a good team-builder."

The statement said, "UN operations are complex features and often demand unusual solutions to unique situations….. It is for consideration that Maj Gen Jetley is a very competent, highly professional and one of the most decorated officers of the Indian Army".

The spokesman said that Maj Gen Jetley was redeploying UN troops from isolated and vulnerable areas where attacks by RUF were possible.

"The successful redeployment by the Force Commander to prevent RUF from gaining control of any additional areas has resulted in loss of momentum of violence by this major rebel group," he said, adding that Maj Gen Jetley was also continuously interacting with pro-government forces and has utilised them as force multipliers to effectively neutralise RUF.

On the situation in Sierra Leone, he said that the general situation remained uncertain with some favourable developments in the Indian battalion area of Kailahun and Daru. There were, however, reports of sporadic clashes between RUF and UN or pro-government forces, he said.