Security Council welcomes imminent deployment of West African troops to Liberia

Concerned about the worsening situation in Liberia, members of the United Nations Security Council today welcomed the pending deployment of a West African force to the war-torn nation, including troops from Nigeria.

In a statement to the press, the Council President, Ambassador Inocencio F. Arias of Spain, said the 15-nation body welcomed the imminent deployment of a vanguard force of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including two Nigerian battalions, and called on the international community to support the alliance’s efforts.

The statement said Council members expressed their concern for the continuing deterioration of the security situation and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Liberia.

Council members “emphasized that all parties to the conflict must honour the ceasefire and commit themselves to finalize a comprehensive peace agreement as soon as possible,” Ambassador Arias said. They also “reiterated that President [Charles] Taylor must honour his commitment to leave Liberia so that the transitional government can be installed and peace restored.”

Ambassador Arias said the members also urged the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) to immediately stop its indiscriminate shelling of the capital Monrovia.