The UN Security Council endorsed on Tuesday a proposal to send 3,500 more peacekeepers to quake-stricken Haiti to support "the immediate recovery, reconstruction and stability efforts" there.

Unanimously adopting a resolution, the 15-member Council endorsed the recommendation by UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to increase the overall force levels of the UN mission there, known as MINUSTAH.

Among these 3,500 UN peacekeepers, 1,500 will be police officers, and the other 2,000 will be military personnel, China's UN Ambassador Zhang Yesui, the Council president for January, told reporters.

The mandate is for six months and the Council will take up the issue whenever it is necessary, Zhang added.

The Council, "recognizing the dire circumstances and urgent need for a response," decided that MINUSTAH will consist of a military component of up to 8,940 troops of all ranks and of a police component of up to 3,711 personnel.

The Council expressed its "deepest sympathy and solidarity" to all those affected by the devastating earthquake of January 12 in Haiti and to their families.

It expressed its "deepest gratitude" for the work of UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) staff and troops, as well as for the work of the staff of other UN and international organizations in Haiti.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2010)