United Nations Radio

Challenges related to security, including the reform of the national police, continue to face Liberia, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission there told the Security Council on Monday.

Mission chief Ellen Margrethe Løj (photo) said the country's internal security status remains fragile with occasional violent incidents on rubber plantations and in diamond mining areas, and even attacks on the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

"The crime rate, both in relation to armed robberies and rape, remains high and in many of the reported rape cases, the victims are young girls or rather children. In addition, there have been an increasing number of incidents of mob violence and attempts to administer mob justice, including attacks on police personnel and police stations by angry crowds who want to assault and even kill crime suspects being detained by the police."

Presenting the latest UNMIL report to the Security Council, Ms. Løj said these incidents were "a clear sign" of Liberians' lack of confidence in their security and justice systems.

She said the Liberian government is making ongoing efforts to finalize a national security strategy which includes reform of the police force.

Reporting for UN Radio, I am Dianne Penn.

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