PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON SITUATION IN LIBERIA

PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON SITUATION IN LIBERIA

Following is today’s statement to the press by Security CouncilPresident Inocencio F. Arias (Spain) on the situation in Liberia:

Members of the Security Council expressed their concern for the continuing deterioration of the security situation and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Liberia.

Council Members emphasized that all parties to the conflict must honour the ceasefire and commit themselves to finalize a comprehensive peace agreement as soon as possible.

Members reiterated that President Taylor must honour his commitment to leave Liberia so that a transitional government can be installed and peace restored.  Members of the Security Council also urged the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) to immediately stop its indiscriminate shelling of Monrovia.

Members welcomed the imminent deployment of an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) vanguard force to Liberia, including two Nigerian battalions, and called on the international community to support ECOWAS efforts.

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