UNITED NATIONS, May 23 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday called for continued support from the International Contact Group to bring peace and development to the four West African countries.

    "I commend the role you are playing in promoting peace and reconciliation in the Mano River Basin, and for your support of UN peace operations in West Africa," Annan said in a message delivered to the so-called International Contact Group meeting in Vienna.

    The group, which was set up in 2002 to deal originally with the Liberian conflict and is co-chaired by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Sweden, includes the European Union (EU), France, Germany, Ghana, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Britain and the United States.

    "The Contact Group's resolve has contributed greatly to the progress made in establishing and consolidating peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and in helping to keep the peace process in Cote d'Ivoire on track," the secretary-general said.

    He called on the Contact Group to continue supporting the Mano River basin States, which include Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Enditem