Government denies ex-fighters joining up

Liberia's deputy information minister has denied news reports that former combatants have been signing up for active duty in the capital to help the government fight rebels who invaded north-western Liberia earlier this week. "It is incorrect to say ex-fighters are being recruited, the standard army can deal with the situation," Milton Teahjay told IRIN on Friday. Humanitarian sources in Monrovia told IRIN on Friday that former combatants were being recruited but that they had no idea how many. The government launched a counter-offensive on Thursday and according to Teahjay, "the dissidents are retreating and at least two towns have been retaken." He was not able to give any details of casualties or fatalities adding that the government still did not know the identity of the rebels. However the state of emergency, declared by President Charles Taylor on Wednesday, was still in effect and was helping the security forces bring the situation under control, Teahjay said. On 11 August the government announced that armed men from neighbouring Guinea had infiltrated towns and villages in Lofa County. President Charles Taylor has repeatedly complained of the existence of training camps in Guinea for Liberian dissidents. Liberia's Defence Minister said on Friday that there were an estimated 500 to 800 dissidents, but the rebels claimed that they numbered about 3000. A rebel spokeman who gave his name as 'Mosquito Spray' confirmed to the BBC on Friday that dissidents were holding some 100 persons - around 50 aid workers and their families - whom they intercepted as they were trying to cross over into Guinea. 'Mosquito Spray' said they were being held in "protective custody'. Their abduction had been reported in an update on the situation in north-western Liberia that had been sent to IRIN on Friday by UNHCR in Abidjan. Responsibility for the abduction was claimed by a group called the Joint Forces of Liberation for Liberia (JFFL), which demanded assistance, such as fuel, in exchange for the freedom of the 100 captives, the update said. Five UNHCR vehicles have also commandeered by unidentified men since the upheavals began. MERLIN reports hostages heading towards border Other aid workers kidnapped on Wednesday were also being moved towards the border with Guinea, a spokeswoman for Medical Emergency Relief International (MERLIN) in London told IRIN on Friday. These abductees are three Liberians, four British, one Norwegian and one Italian. Britain sends team to aid release The British Foreign Office Minister announced on Thursday that a small team led by Warren Haydon-Gash, Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire, would travel from Abidjan to Monrovia "to maintain direct contact with the Liberian government and to offer any advice and assistance they need, as in similar situations." UNHCR reports no general population movement Meanwhile, there have been no reports of any refugees from Liberia crossing into Guinea along the Gueckedou/Macenta part of the border, according to UNHCR. "There are no reports of general population movements in the area and I believe the refugees have remained in the camps," Marcellin Hepie, UNHCR Senior Programme Officer in West Africa, told IRIN. Amnesty calls for respect for human rights Amnesty International (AI) on Thursday called on Liberia's security forces to respect human rights in restoring law and order in Lofa County. "Civilians, irrespective of their ethnic origin or perceived stance towards the Liberian government, must be protected from unlawful killings, torture and ill treatment or detention without charge or trial by the security forces," AI said. Meanwhile the Centre for Law and Human Rights Education wants the government to investigate alleged security harassment of Sierra Leonean refugees in Lofa County, Star Radio reported on Tuesday. See also separate item, titled 'Rebels capture NGO and agency staff' and Item: irin-english-1421, titled 'Government denies ex-fighters joining up'