PRESS STATEMENT ON LIBERIA BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is the text of today’s press statement on Liberia by the President of the Security Council, Kishore Mahbubani (Singapore):

Members of the Council received a briefing by Youssef Mahmoud, Director of the Africa II Division in the Department of  Political Affairs, on the recent situation in Liberia.

Members of the Council expressed serious concern at the grave humanitarian situation as the recent fighting has provoked increased human rights violations and new displacement of population.  They called on the donor community to urgently provide adequate resources to relief agencies.

Members of the Council condemned all attempts to take power by force.  They urged the Liberian parties to resort to dialogue and supported the efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and others to make this dialogue possible.

Members of the Council called on all States in the region to make all possible efforts to improve the situation, in particular by taking action to prevent armed individuals and groups from using their territories to prepare and commit attacks on neighbouring countries. 

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