A power-sharing government has not reunited the country

The United States, the largest contributor to the UN peace-keeping budget, had initially said the number was too high but then agreed.

France, which has 4,000 peace keeping troops in the country, called for a UN force along with 150 civilian police.

Ivory Coast has been divided between rebel-held north and government controlled south since September 2002.

I hope and trust that guided by the spirit of solidarity the international community will provide all the necessary resources Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General

A peace agreement brokered by France helped end the main fighting but supporters of President Gbagbo have accused the former colonial power of undermining him.

Strengthened UN presence

Along with the peace-keeping force will be military observers, staff officers and civilian police and among its main duties will be assisting preparations for next year's elections.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stressed to Security Council members the importance of a strengthened UN presence in Ivory Coast.

"I hope and trust that guided by the spirit of solidarity the international community will provide all the necessary resources including well equipped, well trained military and police personnel for the operation to be fully effective."

It is not clear where the other troops will come from although the more than 1,000 West African troops already there will be paid for by the UN. France will continue to foot the bill for its troops there.

The UN move comes as former rebels in Ivory Coast said on Friday they would not lay down their arms as previously announced.

Guillaume Soro, who head the New Forces former rebels, said disarmament would not proceed until elections set for next year.

Handing over your weapons once and for all is the last phase and that cannot be done without political conditions being met Sidiki Konate, New Forces spokesman

But national reconciliation government Prime Minister Seydou Diarra insists the process will begin on 8 March.

The two sides have formed a power sharing government, headed by Mr Diarra, seen as a neutral, but distrust still runs deep between the former enemies.

Land ownership

"We will not accept being told in a way that precludes all debate that we must give up our weapons," said Mr Soro, who is communications minister in the power-sharing government.

Mr Soro, who is on a tour of Mali, insists that issues such as land ownership and national identity must be resolved before the rebels begin handing over their weapons.

The New Forces say current laws discriminate against northerners and those of foreign origin.

Both groups are mostly Muslim.

A New Forces spokesman also said that pro-government militias must also disarm.

"Disarmament is a long process. Handing over your weapons once and for all is the last phase and that cannot be done without political conditions being met, including the organisation of transparent elections," said Sidiki Konate.

Mr Diarra says the former rebels agreed to lay down their weapons last September.

"We have started down the road to peace and we will not turn back," he said.