National Transitional Government installed as disarmament begins.

• Position: Liberia - Includes related article on US and UK dispute with Libya dispute over 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland

Thousands of Liberians witnessed the installation ceremony in Monrovia of the new Liberian National Transitional Government on 7 March, the same day a nationwide process of disarmament was to begin. These key events were the culmination of international and regional efforts to end the four-year civil war in that West African nation.

Chief Justice james G. Bull administered the oath of office to five members of the council of state, representatives of the parties to the Cotonou Agreement of 25 July 1993.

The ceremony was attended by President Nicephore Sogio of Benin, current Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which provided a military observer group, known as ECOMOG, for the conflict, and other high-level dignitaries.

"The restoration of peace and the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Liberia will require the overwhelming support of the UN, international donors and friendly Governments", Liberia's Ambassador William Bull informed the Secretary-General on 8 March (S/1994/279).

The Transitional Government would facilitate the complete disarmament of all combatants, the repatriation of more than 700,000 Liberian refugees and the holding on 7 September 1994 of democratic national and presidential elections, under international supervision, Mr. Bull added.

At a key meeting on 15 February in Monrovia, the three parties to the Liberian conflict--the Interim Government of National Unity, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, and the United Liberation Movement for Democracy in Liberia--had reached agreement on most outstanding issues impeding the commencement of disarmament and the installation of a transitional government.

The Secretary-General reported (S/1994/168 and Add.1) that at that meeting--facilitated by his Special Representative, Trevor Gordon-Somers, and the Eminent Person of the Organization of African Unity, the Reverend Canaan Banana--the parties had agreed to provide ECOMOG and the UN Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) with information needed to prepare schedules for disarmament. They also agreed to hold free and fair elections on 7 September.

On 25 February, the Security Council expressed concern over a recent upsurge of violence and disruption of humanitarian relief shipments.

On 18 January, the Council had stated (S/1994/51) that delays in implementing the Cotonou Agreement could endanger international support for UN efforts in Liberia.

The World Food Programme (WFP) predicted that Liberia...