Human rights abuses continuing in Sierra Leone — Annan

However, the Secretary-General points out that serious human rights abuses, ceasefire violations, extensive troop and weapons movement and the targeting of humanitarian personnel "give cause for very serious concern."

"The continued violence against the people of Sierra Leone and international personnel is unacceptable and perpetrators should expect to be eld accountable for their actions," the Secretary-General writes.

Arbitrary clearance procedures and threats are also obstructing the delivery of humanitarian assistance. "This should stop," he says.

The report also notes that there is an urgent need to strengthen and accelerate the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (ddr) of ex-combatants. The initial response to the start of the ddr programme has been very poor as less than 10 per cent of the estimated 45,000 fighters have registered in the camps set up to collect weapons, it says.

The leaders of the rebel groups need to prove by their actions that they are committed to the peace process, Annan says, particularly by ending all hostilities and adhering to international human rights standards and humanitarian law.

"Now that the main mechanisms for ceasefire monitoring and disarmament are in place, the responsibility rests with the leaders of the rebel movements to advance the peace process in sierra leone," Annan stresses.

The release of the report on Tuesday coincided with the arrival of UNAMSIL’s new force commander, Major-General Vijay Kumar Jetley of India in the capital of Freetown to take charge of the six thousand strong peace keeping force.