As diplomats at the United Nations prepare to sign off on the biggest peacekeeping budget in the organisation's history, concerns are being raised that the growing demands on the world's "Blue Helmet" forces are running out of control.

Envoys and officials have been closeted at the UN's New York headquarters for much of this month, poring over the details of a $7.3bn (€4.7bn, £3.7bn) budget to field about 90,000 uniformed personnel worldwide in the year from July. This is 10 per cent up on last year and an almost threefold increase since 2003, in terms of cash and troops.