US will not recognise "fraudulent elections"

The United States government would like to see free and fair elections in Liberia and warned it would neither support nor recognise the result of any fraudulent one, US Ambassador to Liberia John William Blaney told journalists on 2 January. Expressing his government's reservations about the electoral climate in Liberia, Blaney said, "it is concerned that preparations for the 2003 elections are inadequate". He pointed out that the necessary conditions do not yet exist to permit free and fair elections in the country. One of such conditions, according to Blaney, was that the US and other governments had repeatedly encouraged the government of Liberia to get help on election preparations from the United Nations well beyond requests for security-related assistance. He emphasised that the UN had excellent capabilities and long experience through its Electoral Assistance Unit that could play a key role in strengthening the upcoming elections across the board. Blaney stressed that a UN assessment team should be requested urgently in Liberia. He also cited the harassment of opposition party representatives, banning of opposition activities as well as the prospect of severely limiting candidates who may run for the presidency as some of the worrisome developments. Meanwhile, the US government called on the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), currently fighting Liberian government forces in the northwestern part of the country, to agree to a ceasefire and commit to the political process.