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Annan strongly condemns brutal killing of 3 aid workers in Liberia

Annan strongly condemns brutal killing of 3 aid workers in Liberia

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan today strongly condemned the brutal killing in Liberia of three humanitarian workers and called on the Government to bring the perpetrators to justice.

In a statement issued by a UN spokesman in New York, Mr. Annan demanded that the Government determine the exact circumstances under which the incident took place. He also called on "all parties to the conflict in Liberia to reinforce measures taken to ensure the protection of civilian, including relief workers."

The Secretary-General extended his deepest sympathy to the families and colleagues of Emmanuel Sharpolu and Musa Kita, Liberian nationals, and Kaare Lund of Norway.

The three workers for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) were on their way to a Norwegian-funded ADRA project in the highly volatile border region of Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire when they were caught-up in a rebel attack on Toe Town.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), ADRA’s partner in the construction of campsites for Ivoirian refugees in Liberia, said it learned of Mr. Lund’s killing with “shock and sadness.” He had originally been reported as missing. The agency added that the 28 February attacks on Toe Town have disrupted humanitarian activities in Liberia’s eastern border regions.