The United Nations Security Council will next Wednesday hold a special consultation on the security situation in Liberia following a report submitted to the body by the Secretary General of the world body, Ban Ki-Moon. The head of the United Nations Mission in Liberia said the consultation will be focused on discussing the progress report of the mission as was contained in Mr. Ban Ki Moon's report to the body.Madam Ellen Margrethe Loj, who is the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General to Liberia said the report from the UN Chief to the council will look at the Mission's work in Liberia since September last year, which is the last time the Mission's mandate to remain in Liberia was renewed by the council and extended for an additional one year.

Dwelling on the UN Chief's report to the council, she said the Secretary General noted in the report that although progress has been made in a number of areas for the restoration of peace to Liberia, but there are still challenges with reference to the development of the country's security sector and the rule of law system. She said the UN Chief also highlighted the issues of justice and judicial as well as the need to reform security institutions such as the Liberia National Police. She said Mr. Moon informed the council in the progress report that expectations to keep the peace in Liberia cannot be fulfilled in the short term unless international support and assistance to the police and other security agencies are forthcoming. Madam Loj added that other issues raised by the UN Chief in the report include the need for Liberians to adopt constructive dialogue over the implementation of the country's Truth and Reconciliation final report, which bars President Sirleaf from contesting political office for 30 years and the need to prosecute others who bear the responsibility for heinous crimes committed during the country's fourteen- year civil war.

“In particular, he (Ben Ki-Moon) underlined the urgent need for the Independent National Human Rights to be established as soon as possible. In the implementation of the act creating the National Human Rights Commission, they will have to follow the implementation of the recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's final report and this is why it is important to have the body set up urgently,” she stressed.  On the passage into law of major legislations that need to be passed to pave the way for the holding of  election in the country in 2011, she quoted the UN Chief as informing the council that there have been no progress over these relevant bills, thus casting a dark cloud over the holding of the elections.  Madam Loj, who is due in New York, next week to attend the consultation, said Mr. Moon iterated the urgency for the Liberian authority to ensure the passage of these pending bills for the smooth conduct of the elections next year.