TEAM INVESTIGATING DETENTION OF UN OFFICIAL IN KINSHASA TO SUSPEND ACTIVITIES

9 April 1998

Press Release
SG/SM/6519

TEAM INVESTIGATING DETENTION OF UN OFFICIAL IN KINSHASA TO SUSPEND ACTIVITIES

19980409 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:

A preliminary report has been received from the head of the investigative team of the incident involving the detention in Kinshasa by the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo of Christopher Harland, a United Nations human rights officer.

In view of the serious nature of the circumstances described in the report, including the search and seizure of official United Nations documents, the team has been instructed to suspend its activities until the facts are clarified and explanations are received from the Congolese authorities.

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