UN boosts security in Liberia
2003-11-21 18:33
Monrovia - United Nations peacekeepers on Friday stepped up vehicle searches in and around the Liberian capital, Monrovia, after a weapons cache was reportedly discovered on the highway leading to the stronghold of the country's main rebel group.
The UN Mission to Liberia (Unmil) could not confirm the seizure of arms and ammunition along the north-south Bomi highway leading to Tubmanburg, held by main rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd), but resumed searches as a precaution, said spokesperson Patrick Coker.
Liberia, fractured by two successive civil wars since 1989, has been under a fragile peace since former warlord president Charles Taylor bowed to international pressure and fled into exile in Nigeria in August.
A ceasefire and power-sharing pact between the country's two main rebel groups and factions loyal to Taylor has been monitored since October by Unmil, which is to have about 15 000 peacekeepers, police and humanitarian personnel on the ground in the west African state by early next year.
Despite the presence of peacekeepers, sporadic clashes have continued between the previously warring factions, with all sides routinely complaining of ceasefire violations.
Have begun giving up their weapons
Unmil is set to kick off a disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration campaign on December 7 at three sites under its control and has already begun disarming small pockets of fighters nationwide.
Militia loyal to Taylor have begun giving up their weapons in eastern Grand Bassa county after a visit to the area by Unmil force commander General Daniel Opande this week to investigate reports of skirmishes and civilian complaints of harassment, said Coker.
A similar disarmament of 50 of Taylor's militiamen was to take place later on Friday in northeastern Nimba county, where UN troops this week quelled clashes with Movement for Democracy in Liberia (Model) rebels that sent thousands of internally-displaced Liberians scattering.
More than 300 000 of Liberia's 3.3 million people have been forced to flee their homes during 14 years of almost continuous war that took about 200 000 lives.
An estimated 275 000 fled to neighbouring countries such as Sierra Leone - itself only emerging from a decade of civil war - Guinea and Ivory Coast.