President says 47 dissidents killed in Lofa

President Charles Taylor said on Wednesday that Liberian government troops had killed 47 dissidents and lost 12 of their men during the past three weeks of fighting, PANA reported. This was the first public disclosure of casualties since the fighting started on 8 July in Voinjama, upper Lofa County. Taylor told reporters in Monrovia that “scores” of wounded Liberian dissidents were receiving medical care in neighbouring Guinea, which he has accused of serving as a launch pad for the insurgents. Guinea has constantly denied involvement. At least 50 wounded government troops are hospitalised at the John F. Kennedy Medical Centre in Monrovia but critical cases have been flown out of the country for advanced medical care.