The UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia has been investigating allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by its personnel and has sought cooperation from the troop contributing countries, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday.

Preliminary fact-finding by the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) indicates that some charges are substantiated and some are not, Dujarric told reporters at UN headquarters in New York.

The allegations range from personnel exchanging goods, money or services for sex to the sexual exploitation of a minor, he said.

UNMIL and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) were taking appropriate follow-up action, he noted.

"The United Nations treats this issue with the utmost seriousness," Dujarric stressed. "As we continue to clamp down on misconduct throughout all peacekeeping missions, it is likely that the number of allegations will increase."

Some of them had come to light because of a hotline set up by the United Nations, he noted, adding that others came up as the United Nation followed up on media reports.

During the past week, DPKO received information concerning a number of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel serving with UNMIL.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2005)