Security Council creates group to investigate illegal income

The Security Council on Friday asked UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to establish an expert panel on the illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth of DRC. According to a statement read out by Council President Ambassador Jean-David Levitte of France, the panel's six-month mandate should include collecting information on all activities of illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth, including those in violation of the sovereignty of the country. The panel is to conduct research and analyse the links between such exploitation and the continuation of the conflict, the statement said. Once established, the panel is to submit to the Council a preliminary report with initial findings after three months, and a final report with recommendations at the end of its mandate. The Council asked Annan to appoint members who have professional expertise, impartiality and knowledge of the sub-region. It stressed that the panel chairman should be an "eminent personality" with the necessary experience. It said the five-member panel, which will be based at the UN Office in Nairobi (UNON), will receive logistical support from the UN Observer Mission in the DRC (MONUC) and make visits to various countries of the region.