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Liberian President Calls for Urgent Meeting to Resolve Border Crisis
Liberian President Charles Taylor Wednesday reiterated his call for an urgent meeting of the leaders of the Mano River Union, which comprises Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, to address the regional crisis.
"In spite of international constraints against Liberia, he (President Taylor) is prepared to go the extra mile to resolve the crisis," reports reaching here quoted a government statement as saying.
Guinea's President Lansana Conte has so far refused Taylor's call, saying he would not negotiate with him as long as Taylor continues to support the Guinea's insurgents to launch cross- border attacks.
Near the northern border with Guinea, the government troops have exchanged fire with a Liberian dissident force, which Liberia said Guinea has been supporting.
After a major offensive which forced rebels to retreat, Liberian troops have recaptured the northern town of Foya over the weekend, according to an Information Ministry statement published in Monrovia late on Tuesday.
With the capture of Foya, the government has regained control of five out of six strategic areas in Lofa County bordering Guinea, although the provincial capital Voinjama still remains in rebel hands.
On May 7, the fresh sanctions by the United Nations came into force aimed at punishing Liberia and in particular President Charles Taylor, who has been accused of supporting the "blood diamonds" trade and therefore prolonging the decade-long civil war in Sierra Leone.
The three members of the Mano River Union, which is designed to promote cooperation and economic development, have been on an increasing conflict course especially on their common border areas since early this year.
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