President blames ULIMO for insecurity

President Charles Taylor has blamed an armed group that opposed him during Liberia's civil war for the insecurity plaguing Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, which make up the all-but-defunct Mano River Union (MRU), news organisations reported. Taylor told journalists after a meeting on Saturday with President Alpha Konare of Mali that the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) was becoming a major threat to peace and security in West Africa, PANA reported. Konare is the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The Liberian leader has accused Guinea of backing ULIMO against his government while Conakry claims that Liberia has been supporting dissidents opposed to it. Taylor said the ongoing hostilities had aggravated tension between Sierra Leona, Liberia and Guinea, which could undermine ECOWAS efforts to build confidence among the Mano River Union member states. Taylor also repeated a call for direct talks with Guinean President Lansana Conte on ways to achieve peace between the two countries.