Liberian News

A witness defending Charles Taylor today said he never heard of the former Liberian president giving orders to his own rebel forces to kill, rape, loot or burn people's houses, as alleged by prosecutors.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, along with members of her Cabinet, set out on Saturday, February 27, 2010, for a week-long visit to southeastern Liberia, an area which, like most parts of the country, is slowly recovering from its share of the 14-year civil conflict.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf returned to the Liberian capital, Monrovia, on Saturday, March 6, following a weeklong visit to the southeastern counties of Maryland, River Gee and Grand Gedeh. The President also made stops in Nimba and Bong Counties.

Efforts by the governments of Sierra Leone and Liberia, the UNHCR and LRRRC towards the integration of former Sierra Leonean refugees who opted for a second home in Liberia have been dealt a serious blow by enemies of development.

Charles Taylor wanted power to empower the Liberian people to develop their country, a defense witness told Special Court for Sierra Leone judges today.

Dennis W. Keleko, an officer of the Liberia National Police has been indicted for stealing a mini purse containing many valuables.

Tens of thousands of citizens in the southeastern counties of Maryland, River Gee and Grand Gedeh have pledged overwhelming support for the second term bid of incumbent President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, describing her as "the only messiah" to lead Liberia for now.

A clarification has been made on a Front Page Story published on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 Vol. 1 No. 15 of the New Dawn Newspaper, captioned; "Ellen Orders Euro Logging, ICC Contract aborted". Browsing through the story one would understand that the letter which the publisher refers to has been misinterpreted.

Latest report reaching the Informer Newspaper indicates that calm has returned to Lofa County following violence clashes last Friday which according to information resulted in the killing of five persons.

For the first time in its history, Liberia's newest, county, River Gee, now has a new immigration office.

A 25 year-old Timothy Sumo has been indicted for allegedly raping a 7-year old girl in the Peace Island Community in Congo Town.

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General Madame Magrethe Ellen Loj has denied claims that Bangladeshi Contingent assigned in Lofa County were impartial during the riot that killed four persons leaving several wounded.

The African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) in collaboration with the Liberia Peace Building Office has launched a major peace building training workshop in Monrovia. The intensive training program which was launched Monday at the Cape Hotel in Mamba Point is expected to last up to Friday, March 5, 2010. The training is sponsored by ACCORD.

The Management of Firestone Liberia has officially opened its Radio station "Voice of Firestone Liberia." The official ceremony took place on Friday, February 26, 2010, on the compound of the Administration Building in Harbel, Margibi County. The new radio station was launched in a bid to disseminate unfolding events and developments within the concession area of the company and its surrounding communities.

Neither Charles Taylor nor his security forces supported or participated in the Sierra Leonean rebel attack on the country's capital Freetown in 1999, the Special Court for Sierra Leone heard today as Mr. Taylor's first defense witness ended his testimony.

In continuation of a southeastern marathon, President Ellen Johnson has been holding side consultations with the leadership of various social, ethnic, religious as well as professional associations everywhere she goes.