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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

LIBERIA: Klein warns against continuing skirmishes

ABIDJAN, 6 November 2003 (IRIN) - The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Liberia, Jacques Paul Klein, has warned Liberian warring factions against continuing to fight each other and committing atrocities against civilians in Nimba county.

The warning followed reports of skirmishes since last week in the eastern parts of Nimba County, near the border with Cote d'Ivoire, between former government militias and fighters belonging to Liberia's second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL).

"Recent skirmishes constitute grave violations of the Liberian Ceasefire Agreement of 17 June 2003, and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed by all parties in Accra on 18 August 2003," Klein said in a statement on Thursday.

"I wish to state that those atrocities being committed against civilians constitute war crimes for which all perpetrators will be held accountable, since there is no amnesty for such crimes," he added.

The UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) sent patrols to fly over the area early this week. On Tuesday another team led by UNMIL and including the Ministers of Defense and Justice, Daniel Chea and Kabineh Ja'neh respectively, as well as MODEL representatives, visited Tapeta and Sagleipie, which are located within the area.

Tapeta is a key town in eastern Nimba very close to the Ivorian border town of Toulepleu, while Sagleipie is in the central area of the northern Liberian County.

"It was clear to the team that the fighting was between former government of Liberia militias and MODEL fighters," Klein said in his statement.

"During its visit, the team made it very clear to the MODEL fighters who were on the offensive towards Sagleipie to cease and withdraw to their base in Tapeta. The team also made it clear to the militias to disengage and remain in their positions at Sagleipie," he added.

The UN envoy said UNMIL, in accordance with its UN Security Council mandate, would protect civilians who were being threatened by the skirmishes, adding that continuing violations of the ceasefire and atrocities against civilians will no longer be tolerated.

"UNMIL will take all necessary measures to fulfill its obligations under the mandate, as and when necessary. It is also keeping a record of those who committed these atrocities against civilians for possible future prosecution...All those who continue to commit atrocities, as defined under the ICC Statute, will accordingly be liable to future prosecution," Klein said.

UNMIL Commander General Daniel Opande on Wednesday said he could not deploy peacekeepers to that volatile area because UNMIL, which has about 4,500 men out of an anticipated strength of 15,000, was still thin. The force, however, expects to achieve its full strength early next year.

Themes: (IRIN) Conflict

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