United Nations peacekeepers in Liberia disarmed more than 200 rebel fighters on Sunday in the territory of Tubmanburg in the north west of the country, according to the UN mission in Liberia (Unmil).
Unmil’s regional commander, Pakistani Colonel Javaid Iqbal said his troops disarmed 254 ex-fighters of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy group and called it the most successful operation so far in the disarmament programme.
The UN-controlled disarmament scheme was resumed 10 days ago in the central provincial city of Gbarnga. It had been suspended last December after disturbances by fighters insisting on immediate benefit payments in exchange for surrendered weapons.
A estimated 12 persons died in the disturbances, according to reports at the time.
An estimated 15 000 fighters have been disarmed since December last year, including nearly 4 000 over the past eight days in Gbarnga and Buchanan. — Sapa-DPA