UN appeals for help in Liberia
2004-10-30 12:49
United Nations - United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on Friday condemned riots in Liberia's capital that left at least five people dead, and urged Liberian and west African leaders to support UN efforts to restore calm.
"The Secretary-General condemns the recent violence and disturbances in Monrovia, which have resulted in the destruction of property and loss of life," Annan's spokesperson said in a statement.
Monrovia was under a curfew as the violence came two days before the end of a UN disarmament effort, provoking fears of a return to conflict in the west African state.
"The Secretary-General appeals to the people of Liberia to strictly comply with the curfew and to cooperate with the authorities and (the UN mission in Liberia) UNMIL," the UN statement said.
"He appeals to all traditional and political leaders in the country, as well as the leaders of Ecowas (Economic Community of West African States) to urgently intervene and support the United Nations' efforts to restore calm as soon as possible," is said.
Monrovia is the largest of Liberia's cities, teeming with former fighters from the civil wars that have raged almost unabated in the west African state since 1989.
The United Nations is due to wrap up its campaign to disarm them on Sunday after registering more than 87 000 people associated with three warring factions from the conflict begun in 1999 and declared over in August of last year.