Monrovia's denials fail to convince ECOMOG

Liberia's denial of accusations that it plans to attack Sierra Leone do not appears to have convinced the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) force backing the Freetown government. ECOMOG's spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Olukulade, told IRIN on Friday that "intelligence reports indicated a massing of Liberian troops at the border with Sierra Leone near Zimmi and we believe the troops are still there". Earlier in the week, Liberia's Defence Ministry had expressed "shock and dismay" at allegations by the ECOMOG (ECOWAS peace monitoring group) force commander that it planned to attack its neighbour, Star Radio reported on Wednesday in Monrovia. ECOMOG commander Major General Felix Mujakperuo made that claim at a recent news conference in reaction to an allegation by President Charles Taylor that ECOMOG was training men to overthrow the Liberian government. According to Olukulade, Mujakperuo denied any plan by ECOMOG to destabilise Liberia. Olukulade told IRIN he believed the Liberian troops were planning a pre-emptive strike "to prevent the purported ECOMOG attack." Star Radio said that the Liberian Defence Ministry urged Mujakperuo to channel his grievances through ECOWAS as Taylor would only acknowledge charges at the ECOWAS level and that it described the allegations as "imaginary stories" .