Taylor calls month-long reconciliation conference

Liberian President Charles Taylor has called a national reconciliation conference that is expected to last at least one month. It is due to open on Friday in the capital, Monrovia, Assistant Minister for Information Jeff Mutada told IRIN. Liberian politicians, including those in the diaspora, have been invited to participate alongside civil society groups such as women, church groups and traditional leaders, Mutada said on Wednesday. "All together hundreds of people are expected to discuss Liberia's future. Observers from various international and regional organisations have also been invited," he added. The participants would go into working groups after the opening for two weeks to discuss Liberia's economy, reconciliation, education and "all the areas that have been adversely affected by conflict" for two weeks. The following week, they would go into villages to hold discussions with traditional leaders before finally gathering again for a wrap up-session. "In the villages they will also try to defuse ethnic differences," he said. Taylor's opponents, including the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), have however said they will not attend the conference. Opposition politician Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, was quoted by Voice of America radio, on Wednesday as saying she did not see the point in trying to negotiate with Taylor. In spite of an ongoing conflict between government troops and the LURD, Mutada said security for those invited to the conference was adequate. "Some of those living outside the country think the security situation is no good. But we think there is sufficient security in Liberia," he said. LURD have been fighting to topple Taylor since 1998. Taylor's opponents held their own conference in Burkina Faso recently at which the LURD said it was prepared to consider a ceasefire with the government forces. Participants included civil society organisations, opposition political groups, the Liberian National Bar Association, the Press Union of Liberia, religious groups and exiled students. However, no Liberian government representatives attended the meeting.