UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The U.N. Mission in Liberia said the capital of Monrovia was quieter Wednesday following three days of unrest in which a peacekeeper was wounded.
A disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and rehabilitation program for the estimated 40,000 Liberian combatants was launched Sunday outside Monrovia, touching off the unrest, which included gunfire, UNMIL said. One peacekeeper from Benin suffered a minor wound in a firefight Tuesday.
The United Nations could not confirm additional casualty reports.
"UNMIL reports today (Wednesday) that the situation around Monrovia ... following the start of the disarmament process this week, is quieter," said U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard. "It says that combatants are turning in weapons at Camp Scheiffelin in an orderly manner."
The mission had said "a very high number of combatants" presented themselves for the program and "misunderstandings" about payments followed, apparently touching off the trouble.
Special Representative Jacques Paul Klein said Tuesday: "It is unfortunate that a small criminal element has attempted to disrupt what is a major international effort to bring peace, security and stability to the Liberian people."
The fledgling UNMIL is slated to be the largest U.N. peacekeeping operation when 15,000 troops are deployed.
