HAVANA, July 25 (Xinhuanet) -- UN special envoy to Haiti, Juan Gabriel Valdes, said Sunday that the UN forces there would need more troops before starting the task of disarming rebels.

    Valdes said in Gonaives, Haiti, that disarming all groups was essential to securing peace. But humanitarian aid and development were also vital.

    "First of all we have to have the contingents on the ground," said the envoy. He acknowledged that disarmament was complicated.

    The former Chilean foreign minister also visited the towns of Gonaives and Cap-Haitien where the revolt against then President Jean Bertrand-Aristide sparked.

    He had private talks with Canadian and Chilean military officials in Gonaives, and met with Brazilian Lt. Gen.Augusto Heleno, the commander of UN force in Haiti.

    The envoy pointed out that a very important part of his job wasto keep alive the interest and the support of the international community for Haiti.

    The crisis in Haiti, triggered by an armed rebellion against the president, ended at the end of February with Bertrand-Aristideresigning and going into exile abroad.

    The United Nations started to deploy a peacekeeping force in the Caribbean country in June, which has an authorized strength of6,700 troops and up to 1,622 civilian police. So far, some 2,200 UN peacekeepers have arrived. Enditem