Government deports “mercenaries”

The government has ordered the deportation of two foreigners, accusing them of being mercenaries, Star radio reported today. They are among 10 people arrested recently on suspicion of collaborating with Sierra Leonean rebels. The two were named as Briton Richard Ratcliffe, the general manager of Red Deer International, and Sheikh Ahmed Kompah, a Sierra Leonean. The other eight were freed for lack of evidence. Sources in Liberia told IRIN the premises of Red Deer International were now closed and sealed up pending the outcome of the investigation. The company was believed to be primarily a rubber buying organisation, and was said to be close to the government.

A Sierra Leonean diplomat was also ordered out of the country, the radio said. The Liberian authorities accused David Saysay of being an intelligence officer posing as an information officer at the embassy of Sierra Leone. According to Justice Minister Eddington Varmah, he had organised a covert operation to “discredit the government”. Liberia has been accused of helping the rebels in Sierra Leone.