- The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution to exempt Liberia from an arms embargo imposed on the West African state in 2003.
The council renewed the arms embargo on everyone else in Liberia except for the 10,000-strong UN peacekeeping force, but said it would not apply to the government for an experimental 12 month period.
However, Resolution 1903 extends for a year asset freezes for those associated with the former regime of Charles Taylor.
In 2001, the United Nations adopted sanctions on sales of Liberian blood diamonds, but the warring factions soon turned to logging to fund their illicit activities.
The council noted with serious concern a finding by the expert panel that little progress was being made in imposing a UN freeze on assets owned or controlled by Mr Taylor, his family and associates. It demanded that Liberia's government "make all necessary efforts to fulfill its obligations."
Mr Taylor has been on trial in The Hague since January 2008 on 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from the brutal 1991-2001 civil war in neighboring Sierra Leone, whose rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) he is accused of arming in exchange for so-called blood diamonds.
The RUF is blamed for the mutilation of thousands of civilians who had limbs severed in one of the most brutal wars in modern history, which claimed some 120,000 lives.
Liberia is still struggling to recover from 14 years of civil war that ended six years ago after more than 250,000 people were killed.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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