Liberia Claims Heavy Fighting in Northern DistrictThe Liberian government Tuesday claimed that fighting between its troops and dissident forces has been intensifying in the country's northern district, according to reports reaching Lagos from Monrovia.A defense ministry statement quoted front line commanders as saying that there was heavy fighting around the town of Kpatazu, where dissident forces burned down the entire town. The statement said that a Liberian commander had been wounded and fighting had also flared at the town of Kolahun. "Our troops are presently engaged in a series of running battles with dissident forces and are thwarting any further advance into other parts of Lofa County," it said. The statement was released just on the eve of the second meeting between foreign ministers from Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia to prepare for a forthcoming summit meeting and discuss situation in the diamond-rich region of West Africa at the junction of their borders. Representatives from the three countries are scheduled to meet in Sierra Leone on Wednesday. Earlier this month, the ministers from the three members of the Mano River Union in Monrovia agreed to address the activity of armed groups fighting along the junction of their borders in the sub-region. The three members of the Mano River Union, which was set up in 1973 with the aim of promoting cooperation and economic development, have been involved in intensifying cross-border conflicts since 1990s. Liberia has accused Sierra Leone and Guinea of harboring dissidents to launch attacks across the two neighboring countries in a bid to overturn the government. In turn, Sierra Leone and Guinea blamed that Liberia is continuing support for Sierra Leone' s rebels as well as armed rebel groups in Guinea. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |