(12 Jan 1999) English/Nat
U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan has expressed grave concerns over the situation in Sierra Leone.
Speaking as he arrived at the U-N on Tuesday, he also said that divisions within the Security Council over Iraq were not helpful.
Coming to work Tuesday, the U-N Secretary General acknowledged the rift in the Security Council over Iraq.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"There are divisions in the council that are not helpful, but I think the council members are discussing it amongst themselves, and trying to see what they can do to develop a common ground and then we will go on with the task in hand. "
SUPER CAPTION: Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General
Turning to another inflamed region, Annan expressed concern over the grim situation in Sierra Leone and a possible U-N role there.
Rebel soldiers are battling in the capital the Freetown with forces loyal to the government.
On Sunday, the rebels attacked a government convoy in Freetown that resulting in the killing of Associated Press Television News producer Myles Tierney and serious injuring AP West Africa bureau chief Ian Stewart.
An Italian missionary has been kidnapped by rebel fighters and two others are missing.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The situation is very grave, it's very serious. We are hoping that the attempts to bring the two parties together to discuss a political solution will be successful. The Foreign Ministers of Togo and Ivory Coast and my own personal representative are actively engaged in trying to bring the parties together and we hope that we will find a political solution for it."
SUPER CAPTION: Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General
The Security Council was due to meet Tuesday to discuss Sierra Leone, in addition to yet another hotspot, Kosovo.

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