Security Council asks expert panel to probe Liberia’s compliance with resolution

The United Nations Security Council today unanimously decided to re-establish an expert panel to investigate Liberia’s compliance with an earlier demand that the Government stop its support of a rebel group in neighbouring Sierra Leone.

The 15-member body asked UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to appoint five experts to conduct a follow-up assessment mission to Liberia and neighbouring countries in order to look into and compile a brief independent audit of the Government’s observance of a Council resolution adopted last year and to report on its findings no later than 8 April.

The Council’s resolution last year had called for Liberia to end financial and military support to the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) of Sierra Leone, to expel rebel members from the country and to prohibit their activity on its territory.

By the same text, the Council also imposed an arms embargo on Liberia, restricted its diamond exports and banned the country’s senior officials from travelling abroad, except for humanitarian reasons.