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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

LIBERIA: Peace facillitator calls for immediate ceasefire

MONROVIA, 7 May 2003 (IRIN) - Former Nigerian President Abulsalami Abubakar, who was appointed last month West Africa's facilitator for proposed Liberian peace talks, has ended a one-day official visit to Liberia, calling on warring parties to immediately ceasefire as a prerequiite to peace negotiations.

After consultations with President Charles Taylor, political parties and local representatives of the International Contact Group on Liberia (ICGL), Abubakar told reporters that the entire nation must give peace a chance.

"Liberians are yearning for peace and they must all work together to give a peace a chance."

He disclosed that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) coffers were over-stretched and the sub-region was presently identifying other sources of funding for the peace process adding that "its is not easy to just start such a peace process." Findings from his mission to the war-torn country will be submitted to the current ECOWAS chairman and Ghanaian President John Kufuor who, in consultation with the regional body, would set a date for peace talks, the envoy said.

On contacts with then main rebel movement Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), the former Nigerian leader said arrangements were underway to meet with them and listen to their demands.

In other news, the ICGL will convene a meeting on 12 May in Brussels where the report of a UN assessment team, currently in the country, would be reviewed.

Themes: (IRIN) Conflict

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