Security Council 'concerned' over reported disappearance of Taylor
28 March 2006 – The United Nations Security Council expressed concern today over media reports that former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who was indicted by a UN-backed court in Sierra Leone for war crimes, has disappeared from his residence in Nigeria.
Speaking to reporters, the March President of the 15-member body, César Mayoral of Argentina, said that the Council was trying to find out more about the situation and would have a briefing tomorrow to try and get further details.
“Today the members of the Council expressed concern about the news of the disappearance of the former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor. We agreed to have a briefing tomorrow…about more information about the disappearance,” he said following closed-door consultations of the 15-member body.
Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that he too was trying to get clear information about the case, adding that he intended to talk to the Nigerian authorities to find out more.
“I have heard the news. We are trying to get more facts about it. It would be extremely worrying if indeed he had disappeared, because the Nigerian Government had indicated it will cooperate with his transfer to Liberia and to the Court,” he said.
Earlier this month during her visit to UN Headquarters, Liberia’s newly elected President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, told the Security Council that she had asked Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to consult with colleagues in the sub-region and the international community to help resolve the issue of former President Taylor.
Mr. Taylor, who was indicted by a UN-backed court in neighbouring Sierra Leone on charges of war crimes related to his support for rebels in that country, was exiled to Nigeria as part of a peace deal three years ago that helped bring an end to Liberia’s decade of civil war, which killed some 200,000 people.
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