Group accused of introducing Islamic fundamentalism

A spokesman for President Charles Taylor has accused a group called the Jihad Movement of trying to introduce Islamic fundamentalism into Liberia, Star radio reported.

The Deputy Minister of State for Public Affairs and Press Secretary to the President, Reginald Goodridge, was reportedly reacting to the Jihad Movement's alleged demand for all Muslims to resign from the government. The demand was carried in local newspapers on Wednesday.

The leader of the Jihad Movement reportedly said that incidents like the burning of mosques in Lofa County constituted attacks on the Muslim community in Liberia.

Goodridge said Liberia was a tolerant society in which Muslims and Christians had co-existed for a long time. Attempts to disrupt the peace in Liberia under the banner of Islamic fundamentalism would be discouraged by law, he reportedly said.