Accra, July 30, GNA - The ECOWAS Chairman, President John Agyekum Kufuor, on Wednesday, pledged to offer the needed leadership to maintain peace within the West African sub-region.

He said, "I will continue to give the leadership required to maintain peace in the sub-region. It is a very difficult situation, especially the humanitarian situation we have in Liberia." President Kufuor said this when Mr. Walter Kansteiner, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu.

He said more support was needed from the US to ensure that all the parties involved in the Liberian conflict agreed to a ceasefire for the peace process to continue.

President Kufuor commended the US for its acceptance to play a major role to solve the Liberian conflict and the substantial support it had offered to enable the Liberian people go about their chores in peace.

He said the one-day extra-ordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would discuss the deployment of ECOWAS troops to Liberia and how to facilitate the process of the peace talks in Accra.

Mr. Kansteiner said the leadership provided by President Kufuor to solve the Liberian conflict was commendable and pledged the support of the US to the ECOWAS to find solution to the conflict.

He stressed the need for President Charles Taylor to leave Liberia and the US was anxiously waiting for his departure.