UN Radio: Power-Sharing Accord Near in Liberia

UN Radio: Power-Sharing Accord Near in Liberia

Power-Sharing Accord Near in Liberia

A power sharing agreement for Liberia was being signed this afternoon in Accra, Ghana. Agreement was reached on all aspects of the accord after the rebel group Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), dropped its demand for one of the highest posts in the interim power-sharing government. The senior UN official at the talks Abu Moussa says the deal covers demobilization and disarmament of combatants.

"Well agreement calls for the putting in place of the transitional government for 2 years. The agreement calls for the demobilization of all the non-conventional forces."

The interim government is slated to take over from Charles Taylor's successor Moses Blah, in October.

WFP Continues Distributing Food Aid to Liberians

On the ground in Liberia, the UN food agency (WFP), is distributing food from its warehouse at the port in Monrovia. Gregory Blamoh of the WFP office in Monrovia tells us the agency has distributed more than a hundred tons of food to thousands of beneficiaries and it expects more food.

"Well there is no problem getting food into the country and we have been sourcing food commodities. We expect some to be in the country soon within the next 7 to 10 days."

Blamoh says that food would include produce that WFP lost when its warehouse was looted earlier this month.

Agreement Signed to Allow Humanitarian Agencies Access Throughout Liberia

The special representative of the Secretary-general for Liberia Jacques Klein has secured a signed agreement by the Liberian warring parties to ensure free and unimpeded access to all territories under their control. A UN spokesman says this is to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance by international organizations and non-governmental organizations and to guarantee the security and safety of all members and equipment of international organizations and NGO's operating in territory under their control. The agreement on the distribution of humanitarian aid assistance in Liberia was signed by representatives of the government of Liberia, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL). The spokesman says while the agreement states it would come into effect immediately, it has been delayed until Tuesday to allow the commanders to inform all their fighters. Meanwhile, the UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), has welcomed the signing of the agreement on humanitarian access as "a hopeful sign that it will be possible to meet the needs of Liberia's long-suffering population".

UNHCR Helps Iraqi Arab Returnees

In Iraq, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), is helping improve water and medical services in villages where displaced Arabs have returned, under a programme to stabilize returnee communities in northern Iraq. UNHCR Spokesman Peter Kessler says the projects are being undertaken in villages where more 2-thousand newly displaced Arabs have gathered in the aftermath of the collapse of the Saddam Hussein government.

"In Iraq, UNHCR has been helping to stabilize returnees where displaced Iraqis are returning since June under a programme where we are directing aid to villages where people are not disputing ownership of property and any other issues that can give rise to further violence.

Under the programme, UNHCR has already targeted aid to several villages in which people have received tents, blankets, stoves and kitchen sets.

UK and USA to Ask Security Council to Lift Sanctions against Libya

Britain and the United States are prepared to ask the Security Council Monday to end UN sanctions on Libya. Libya's ambassador presented a letter to the president of the UN Security Council on Friday, stating Libya's commitment to cooperate in the international fight against terrorism.
According to United Nations Spokesman Fred Eckhard, Libya said that it has arranged for the payment of appropriate compensation in connection with the 1988 explosion of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, with the necessary sums to be transmitted to an escrow account within a matter of days.

"The US and the UK ambassadors, in a joint letter said that in view of Libya's actions, they are prepared to allow for the lifting of the sanctions measures set out against Libya in Security Council resolutions once the necessary sums have been transfered to an escrow account within a matter of days."

A resolution regarding those sanctions is expected to be introduced today.

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