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Rights activist arrested

    ABIDJAN

    A leading human rights activist in Liberia surrendered to police on Thursday, days after they had launched a search for him for criticising the country's Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU), media organisations reported.

    Last week, Thomas Ade-Bayor, executive director of the Liberia Watch for Human Rights, described the ATU as an illegal security unit that was being used to perpetuate the on-going fighting in Lofa County, northern Liberia.

    Police Chief Paul Mulbah said Ade-Bayor was wanted because his criticism was "a serious allegation against the government and President Charles Taylor" and the police needed him to "clarify" his comments, AFP reported. Amnesty International last month accused the ATU of committing widespread human rights violations and abuses while fighting dissident forces in Lofa.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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