THE UNITED STATES ASKED THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY TO EASE ITS BAN ON WEAPONS SALES TO LIBERIA SO THAT PRESIDENT PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON-SIRLEAF CAN ARM NEWLY TRAINED POLICE AND SECURITY FORCES AS WELL AS HER OWN SECURITY DETAIL, REUTERS REPORTED. A DRAFT RESOLUTION CIRCULATED AMONG THE COUNCIL'S 15 MEMBER NATIONS WOULD EXEMPT FROM THE EMBARGO ALL SECURITY AND POLICE OFFICERS TRAINED SINCE OCTOBER 2003 AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF LIBERIA'S SPECIAL SECURITY SERVICE. SEPARATE U.N. EMBARGOES ON LIBERIAN DIAMOND AND TIMBER EXPORTS WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED. "ALTHOUGH IT MAY SEEM COUNTERINTUITIVE TO START WITH THIS, THIS IS WHAT THE PRESIDENT HERSELF THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT," U.S. AMBASSADOR JOHN BOLTON TOLD REPORTERS.
