Three new appointees for UN team in Liberia

The United Nations today announced three new appointments to its mission in Liberia.

Souren G. Seraydarian of Syria and Abou Moussa of Chad have been appointed Deputy Special Representatives of Secretary General Kofi Annan, and Mark A. Kroeker of the United States was named the Police Commissioner for the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

Mr. Seraydarian, a career UN diplomat, is the new specialist for operations and rule of law, and will serve as officer-in-charge of UNMIL in the absence of the top envoy, Special Representative Jacques Paul Klein, while Mr. Moussa will specialize in relief, recovery, rehabilitation and humanitarian affairs.

Mr. Kroeker, the former chief of police of Portland, Oregon, is a security specialist with experience in Palestinian and Bosnian programmes.

On 1 October, UNMIL assumed command of the West African-led peacekeeping force and at full strength will have a 16,000-strong military and police contingent. Two weeks later, a new National Transitional Government for Liberia took over after former President Charles Taylor left the country in August.