Rebels capture NGO and agency staff

Some 50 international staff from various non-governmental organisation (NGOs) and agencies along with about 50 of their dependents are being held by rebels on the Liberian side of the border with Guinea, according to an update on the Voinjama situation sent to IRIN on Friday from the UNHCR in Abidjan. Responsibility for the action has been claimed by a group called the Joint Forces of Liberation for Liberia (JFFL), which has demanded assistance, such as fuel, in exchange for the freedom of the 100 captives, the update said. Earlier reports suggested that the aid workers had crossed out of Liberia and were waiting at the Guinean border near Macenta. Negotiations had been ongoing for the border, which was closed earlier this week, to be reopened to allow the evacuees through. The Guinean government had requested a list of the names and nationalities of all 100 and had promised to open the border on Friday, the UNHCR said. MERLIN reports hostages heading towards border Six other abductees, Western 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. "We had radio contact with one of the hostages last night and they were close to the border, but it was too late to cross over," she said. "As far as we know they are still under the control of the armed group." The six were abducted at Kolahun in the northwest of Liberia. Their names had also been sent to Conakry to be added to the list in the hope that they, too, could cross the border on Friday, the UNHCR said. The six are four British, one Norwegian and one Italian. Unconfirmed reports said that three local workers were also being held by the abductors. 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."