SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY CONCERNED AT RENEWED FIGHTING IN LIBERIA, CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES

SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY CONCERNED AT RENEWED FIGHTING IN LIBERIA,

CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan:

The Secretary-General has learned with deep concern of renewed and intensified fighting between government troops and rebel forces in Monrovia over the last 24 hours.  This development constitutes a flagrant violation of the recently concluded ceasefire agreement and casts a shadow on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)-facilitated peace talks in Accra, which had raised high hopes for the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

The Secretary-General once again condemns any attempts to resolve political differences through armed violence.  He calls on all the parties to cease hostilities immediately in order to give a chance to the peace negotiations and allow for the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to Liberia’s traumatized population.  He also calls on the parties to refrain from any action that might further endanger the lives of the civilian population and to fully respect international humanitarian laws.

The Secretary-General reaffirms the United Nations’ support for the tireless efforts of the Chairman of ECOWAS and the Mediator to help restore peace and stability to Liberia and calls on the international community to continue to support those efforts.

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