Angola: Security Council extends mandate of UN sanctions monitoring body

The United Nations Security Council today extended the mandate of the UN committee monitoring sanctions imposed in 1993, 1997 and 1998 against forces of the UNITA rebel organization in Angola.

In a resolution adopted Friday evening, the Council gave the monitoring body 60 days to provide a Council committee with an action plan for its future work, in particular on sanctions on UNITA diamonds, violations of the arms embargo, and on UNITA finances.

The Council also asks UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to appoint four experts to serve on the monitoring mechanism and to make financial arrangements to support the group's work.

Council members also expressed concern about the humanitarian effects of the present situation on the civilian population of Angola.