British and French ministers have urged Liberian President Charles Taylor to stop supporting rebels in Sierra Leone, news organisations reported.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday in the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown, British International Development Secretary Clare Short blamed Taylor for instability in the region. She condemned the actions of Revolutionary United Front (RUF) forces, which have included cutting off civilians’ limbs.
Her French counterpart Charles Josselin said that the relationship between the RUF and Liberia was no secret and that there was no sign yet of Taylor complying with a UN demand to stop supporting the rebels, news organisations reported.
The UN Security Council voted unanimously on 7 March to impose sanctions on Liberia in response to evidence of Monrovia’s involvement in arms and diamonds trafficking with the RUF. The measures take effect on 7 May unless the Liberian government can prove that it no longer supports the RUF and other armed groups in the region.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
Share this article