Annan appoints monitors for Somali arms embargo

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, responding to a Security Council request, has appointed a panel of experts to monitor violations of the arms embargo against Somalia during the coming six months.

The four members, who will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, are Melvin E. Holt of the United States, Li Changseng of China, John Tambi of Sierra Leone and Joel Salek of Colombia, according to a letter to the Council made public today.

Meanwhile, in the Lower Juba region of southern Somalia, a UN staff member was abducted earlier in the day, according to the Office of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia.

"The UN is in communication with the de facto authorities in the region that are taking steps to secure the release of the staff member," the Office said, without naming the victim.