President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday urged all factions in the Yendi skin dispute to exercise self-restraint and allow the rule of law to facilitate peace, justice and stability.

He described the crisis as "an awful tragedy that befell the nation and Dagbon" leading to loss of lives and the regicide of the Dagbon King Ya-na Yakubu Andani II

President Kufuor was speaking at a People's Assembly organised by his administration in Accra to mark one decade of the Fourth Republic. "Government has worked hard since the tragedy and is doing all it can to find a long-term solution to the problem," he said.

The President said the Attorney-General has been instructed to expedite action on the White Paper issued on the Wuaku Commission's Report. The Ya-Na and some 30 people died last March in fighting between the Andani and Abudu Gates in the Yendi Skin affair.

The People's Assembly is on the theme: "Consolidating Ghana's Democracy through Peace, Unity and Development." The forum, which would be organized nation-wide, would offer the public the opportunity to interact with the executive on pertinent national issues.

President Kufuor said good governance, national security and the protection of individual liberties have remained top of the government's agenda. "I believe it is fair to commend the security agencies for their work so far. With the injection of a few working tools, they are getting on top of the law and order situation and there has been a marked improvement.

"The police are more visible and thus inducing more confidence among the people. The military is also reverting to professionalism and their proper constitutional role. They are bringing honour to the nation." President Kufuor called on the citizenry to support the security agencies in the fight against social misfits.