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Expert panel says UN Security Council should extend arms embargo against Liberia

Expert panel says UN Security Council should extend arms embargo against Liberia

An independent panel dealing with Liberia sanctions has recommended that the Security Council extend the arms embargo and rough diamond sanctions on the country.

In its report released today at UN Headquarters, the panel chaired by Martin Chungong Ayafor of Cameroon said that despite some progress, a steady flow of new weapons had continued to enter into Liberia in violation of UN sanctions.

Timber production - an important source of revenue for the Government - had also been a source of financing for sanctions-busting, the panel said, recommending that the UN impose a ban on all round log exports from Liberia starting from July 2002.

The group also said that Liberia's maritime registry had generated funds for opaque off-budget expenditures, including sanctions-busting, and suggested that the Security Council's sanctions committee for Liberia set up an escrow account as the ultimate destination for all revenues generated from the country's shipping and corporate registry.

Finally, the panel members said the Security Council may consider lifting its order to ground Liberian aircraft because the Monrovia Government had made progress in addressing irregularities among its registered aircraft.