Deeply concerned by developments in Liberia - where weekend violence once again rocked the capital city of Monrovia - the United Nations Security Council today appealed to all the parties to give the current peace process a chance to succeed.

In a statement to the press, the current Council President, Ambassador Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation, said the members shared Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s alarm that escalating clashes between rebels and government forces in Liberia have severely impacted the already-desperate people living in and around Monrovia.

They also supported Annan’s call on the parties to take all necessary measures to ensure that civilians are not targeted and spared the effects of war, the Council President said.

Lavrov added that Council members also reaffirmed their support for the peace efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) as well as the Liberian peace talks, currently underway in Ghana.

“The members of the Council also reminded all the parties on the ground about their responsibilities under international humanitarian law,” Lavrov said, “and we appeal to them to provide security guarantees for safe and unhindered access to humanitarian agencies to vulnerable groups”.

The Council also appealed to the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to alleviate the growing suffering of the Liberian people. – UN News.