Militias of the former Liberian Government staged a riot in the Paynesville suburbs Monday in protest for resettlement benefits and money owned them by the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

One person was reportedly killed as angry militias armed with sticks barricaded major routes leading to the Paynesville suburbs. The identity of the victim and cause of death was not disclosed.

A spokesperson for the protesting militias confirmed that they were rioting in demand of money owned them by UNMIL.

He said most of the rioters were persons who had previously disarmed and were expected to have received US$75.00 each and other benefits from the UN, following disarmament and demobilization.

Residents in the Paynesville suburbs told The NEWS that the riot started during the early morning rush hours when former Government militias were awaiting UNMIL officials to take them to the disarmament site, where they were expected to receive their US$75.00 and other benefits.

According to some residents, the former soldiers were informed that the process would not continue Monday, instead, the following week.

The residents said it was at this point that the former Government militias got angry and began setting roadblocks as pandemonium spread in the Paynesville area.

Eyewitnesses hinted this Paper that few former soldiers were seen armed with automatic riffles, but were apparently out of ammunition rounds.

Eyewitnesses also said as the tension grew, UNMIL soldiers fired tear gas and warning shots in the air to disperse angry militias when they move in to restore calm.

According to some marketers and traders, people sustained injuries as they struggled to escape the scene into safety zones. Rioting soldiers in the Red-light Market smashed vehicles while residents dogged for cover as the situation became tensed.

Meanwhile, speaking on UNMIL Radio yesterday, Acting Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Joseph Owonibi explained that, "The truth of the situation is they were not expected to turn up today. Sector One is still handling the category of those with arms and ammunitions. And this category is currently going through the disarmament and demobilization and the process is going on excellently well, with everybody cooperating and making sure that no hitches are recorded. Those who were in the category of the Camp Schieffelin caseload are expected to be handled after this current group. They were not expected to be on the ground today".

The Acting Force Commander confirmed that UNMIL brought the situation under control as the newly Police Formed Unit was there to reinforce patrol in the area.

He added that, "We had to disperse all those who were creating problems there in order to allow free traffic there so that people can come back to their commercial activities".

Asked whether he will meet with commanders of the Ex-Government, Maj. Gen. Owonibi said, "We are going to discuss with all. They have gotten in touch with us from the Ministry of Defense in their usual form of cooperation. There is going to be a discussion with them. There is a strategy and a program being worked out. Everybody is required to be patient. The program will be widely publicized over UNMIL Radio and through the local commanders. So everybody will be covered; nobody is going to be left out. They just need to follow the program in sequence so that we can avoid crises like this."

This is the third disturbance of such magnitude in the Paynesville area. The first occurred last October when an attempted visit to the former government leader, Moses Blah by the leader of the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), Sekou Damate Conneh, resulted into chaos with an exchanged of gun fire between the two rival factions.

The second disturbance occurred on December 7, 2003, when former Government militias went on a 3-day rampage in demand of money for guns during the commencement of the disarmament exercise.

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