United Nation peacekeeping mission that was sent to Liberia in 2003 to restore order, after two brutal civil wars, withdrew on Thursday. Liberia has relied heavily on the mission of 15,000 U.N. troops, known as UNMIL, which had been winding down for several months, before control was officially handed over to domestic forces on Thursday.
 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said much had been done to prepare for the transition, but that more was still needed. The government has said that new barracks have been built across the country, to increase security outside the capital. As of Friday, 1,240 U.N. military and 606 police personnel, will remain on the ground, but will be there, only in case of emergency.