UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- The UN Security Council adopted unanimously on Friday a resolution that authorizes the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to apprehend former Liberian President Charles Taylor if he returns to that country.

    The Council, determining that the return of Taylor would constitute an impediment to Liberia's stability and a threat to its peace, decided to include in the mandate of UNMIL the former leader's apprehension, detention and transfer to the Special Courtfor Sierra Leone, in the event of his return to Liberia.

    The Council also decided that, as a part of its additional mandate, UNMIL should, in transferring or facilitating the former president's transfer to the Special Court, keep the governments ofLiberia and Sierra Leone, as well as the Council, fully informed.

    The Special Court is an independent tribunal established jointly by the United Nations and the government of Sierra Leone in 2002 to try serious violations of international humanitarian law, such as war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed since 1996, at the height of that country's 1991-2002 civil war.

    Taylor and 11 others indicted by the Court are charged with warcrimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. Enditem