UN Yet To Verify Information On Belarus Attack

UN Yet To Verify Information On Belarus Attack

The UN says it is yet to verify information that Belarus breached an arms embargo on Côte d'Ivoire by providing attack helicopters to forces loyal to incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo.

UN spokesperson, Martin Nesirky gave the clarification in New York after his earlier statement accused the country of breaking the arms embargo.

The earlier statement said the first delivery of the attack helicopters and its parts reportedly arrived on a flight on Sunday in the Ivorian city of Yamoussoukro .

Arms embargo

The UN said information sourced from the group of experts established by the Security Council to monitor the arms embargo against Cote d' Iviore reported that additional flights were scheduled for Monday.

“This is a serious violation of the embargo against Côte d'Ivoire which has been in place since 2004” the spokesman said.

Verification

Later at a news conference, Nesirky said the group of experts and an UNOCI officer traveled to the city's airport but was unable to verify the information and was forced to withdraw when they were fired upon by armed elements.

Asked to substantiate the claims by the UN, the spokesman said he was not in a position to give further details on the nature of information received.

‘Inquiry'

In denying the accusation, the Belarus Mission to the UN called for an “inquiry” into how a statement “erroneously” accusing the country of the arms supply to Cote d Ivoire ended up on UN website. 

“The Republic of Belarus has always regarded UN Security Council's decisions very responsibly. There is an efficient system of arms export control created in Belarus ,” the Mission said.

As violence escalated in Abidjan , the capital of Côte d'Ivoire and environs, the UN had accused Gbagbo of arming youth groups and forces loyal to him.

Gbagbo has refused to hand over power to Alassane Ouattara, widely believed to have won last year's election.

NAN/Margaret/Yinka