The meeting, the ninth in a series by the Defence and Security Commission of the 15-member ECOWAS bloc, was also attended by the commanders of the three UN peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast, they said.

"We are to discuss the problem of political instability in ECOWAS member countries," Nigeria's defence chief General Alexander Ogumudia said at the start of the meeting.

He said progress made in the peace processes in Liberia and Sierra Leone, which were until recently in the grip of civil wars, should not be taken for granted because "the challenges before us are still great."

"We must evolve ways of not only supporting the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes and ensuring the final resolution of peace and stabilitity in both Sierra Leone and Liberia," he said.

He also urged regional leader to "ensure that the peace process in Ivory Coast is put permanently on course."

Commission chairman and Ghanaian defence chief General Seth Obeng urged members to work to help crisis-ridden Ivory Coast -- which has been split in two by a northern rebellion -- to find a lasting peace settlement.

ECOWAS deputy executive secretary General Cheick Diarra said the meeting would also consider the issue of a standby force for the sub-region and an "After Action Review" of the ECOWAS mission to Liberia.

WAR.WIRE