UNITED NATIONS RIGHTS EXPERT CALLS FOR RELEASE OF AID WORKER ABDUCTED IN SOMALIA

GENEVA, 4 February (UN Information Service) -- The following statement was issued today by the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Ghanim Alnajjar:

SECRETARY-GENERAL ENCOURAGES SOMALI LEADERS TO SWIFTLY CONCLUDE NATIONAL

RECONCILIATION CONFERENCE WITH ESTABLISHMENT OF INCLUSIVE GOVERNMENT

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

PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON SECRETARY-GENERAL’S

APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL ENVOY FOR ETHIOPIA-ERITREA

Following is today’s press statement by Security Council President Heraldo Muñoz (Chile) on the Secretary-General’s appointment of his Special Envoy for Ethiopia-Eritrea:

SECRETARY-GENERAL NAMES LLOYD AXWORTHY SPECIAL ENVOY FOR ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA

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

The Secretary-General has been very concerned about the lack of progress in the implementation of the Algiers Agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

PRESIDENT OF UGANDA REFERS SITUATION CONCERNING LORD’S RESISTANCE ARMY (LRA)

TO INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

(Reissued as received.)

DHL DELIVERS HELP FOR GREAT APES OF TROPICAL AFRICA

Wildlife Officers in Guinea, Mali, Congo,

Sierra Leone, Senegal Get Urgently Needed Computers

(Reissued as received.)

UN RESIDENT AND HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR CONDEMNS MURDERS

OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN SOMALIA

(Reissued as received.)

NAIROBI, 26 January(OCHA) -– The UnitedNations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Maxwell Gaylard,today condemned the recent murders of innocent women and children inclan-related conflicts in southern Somalia.

PRESS STATEMENT ON BURUNDI BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s statement to the press on Burundi by Security Council President Heraldo Muñoz (Chile):

Members of the Security Council welcomed the discussions held from 18 to 21 January 2004, in Oisterwijk, Netherlands, between the President of the Burundian Republic, Mr Ndayizéyé, and a delegation of the Forces nationales de libération (Palipehutu-FNL).

PRESS STATEMENT ON CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s statement to the press on the Central African Republic by Security Council President Heraldo Muñoz (Chile):

INTER-COMMUNAL CLASHES IN COTE D’IVOIRE INCREASE