SG/SM/10153
AFR/1268
11 October 2005
Secretary-General Calls for Full, Peaceful Participation in Liberian Elections
NEW YORK, 10 October (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
The Secretary-General is pleased that the Liberian presidential and parliamentary elections are to take place as scheduled tomorrow, 11 October. The issues emanating from the Supreme Court rulings have been resolved through consultations conducted by the ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] Mediator, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Head of State of Nigeria. The Secretary-General would like to thank the candidates who have agreed to withdraw their claims for their demonstration of flexibility. He also thanks General Abubakar, who, together with the UN, worked tirelessly towards ensuring that the elections would take place in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the electoral timetable.
UNMIL [United Nations Mission in Liberia] is providing technical and logistical support to the elections, as well as security, along with Liberia's security agencies. The Secretary-General calls on all Liberians to participate in large numbers and in a peaceful manner in this historic election.
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