Vice President tells Taylor Liberia harbouring dissidents

Sierra Leonean Vice President Albert Demby said in Monrovia yesterday that rebels from his country had safe havens in Liberia and moved freely across the border to launch raids, independent Star Radio reported. The broadcaster said today Demby was speaking after delivering a special message to Liberian President Charles Taylor. Demby said the message from Sierra Leonean President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was in response to Taylor’s offer to mediate an end to Sierra Leone’s civil war. Demby said Freetown would pursue negotiations and the military option simultaneously in an effort to end the conflict. Liberia and Sierra Leone are founding members of the Mano River Union, a subregional economic grouping but relations between them have been strained by mutual accusations of subversion.