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Government calls for independent investigator

Country Map - Liberia IRIN
Offshore oil exploration to begin near Liberia's border with Sierra Leone
    ABIDJAN

    Liberia's government has called for someone of Nelson Mandela's stature to lead investigations into its government's alleged involvement in supplying arms to Sierra Leonean rebels, AFP reported, citing a communiqué the Liberian Ministry of Information released on Thursday.

    Liberia also wants the investigator to mediate in its dispute with Sierra Leone - the two countries accuse each other of supporting rebel groups. Similarly, Liberia has accused the Guinean government of failing to act against dissidents who, it charges, crossed into Liberia from Guinea earlier this month.

    Liberia also called on the United Nations, the Mano River Union, (an economic association of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea), the United States and Britain to monitor the Liberia-Sierra Leone border. Liberia has repeatedly denied allegations that it has been arming the Revolutionary United Front in exchange for Sierra Leone diamonds.

    The Information Ministry also said the government had "instituted measures to empower its Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy to strengthen its control on all diamond transactions in Liberia", AFP reported.

    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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