Liberia-Public Agenda- newspaper

Amputees footballers are gearing up for the first-ever African Cup of Nations to be hosted in Liberia this month.

The tournament is the second edition after Sierra Leone hosted it in 2006.

Liberian soccer.com - news

Barely a week following the formal signing of a one-year contract to coach Liberia's senior national team, German-born Antoine Toney Hey has named 18 foreign-based players for a friendly match with Sudan in Khartoum on 26 March.

The appeal court in The Hague has acquitted businessman Guus Kouwenhoven of illegal arms dealing.

10 March 2008

THE HAGUE – The appeal court in The Hague has acquitted businessman Guus Kouwenhoven of illegal arms dealing.

Nor did the court find him guilty of complicity in war crimes. The public prosecution department had demanded Kouwenhoven be sentenced to 20 years in prison and a fine of EUR 450,000.

The appeal court said that the public prosecution had done a poor job and failed to produce much evidence. Kouwenhoven was sentenced to eight years in prison by a lower court in 2006 for illegal arms dealing in Liberia.

The testimony given in the case was unreliable and the defence was not permitted to question all witnesses, the court said.

The Analyst (Monrovia) 11 February 2008


An international Liberian Civil Society Organization, European Federation of Liberian Association (EFLA) has begun rallying the support of the Liberian government for the International Development Conference on Liberia in France soon.

Mr. Elvis Morris, President of EFLA told reporters yesterday that the development conference on Liberia is scheduled for early March in Paris, France.

He indicated that the civil society conference which is aimed at shaping the developmental image of Liberia will bring together delegates from several civil society organizations that are working together for the development of Liberia.

He said Liberia's reconstruction was important and crucial to government's interim poverty strategy reduction (IPRS) program as well as the attainment of lasting peace. In this light, he said EFLA was not leaving any screw unturned in buttressing government's plans for reconstruction and development.

According to the EFLA leader, the fourteen years armed conflict has paralyzed the entire Liberian society for which every citizen and society organization needed to closely work with the government in implementing the agenda for peace and national development.

He disclosed that the international development confab will deliberate on bringing development to Liberia in a rapid process so as to benefit the ordinary Liberians.

He called on the Liberian government officials to give their moral support to the Liberian development conference that will be held among over 20 Civil Society Organizations in France for the achievement of national development and peace in Liberia

Thousands of Liberians who are eager to witness the historic visit of the President of the United States of America, George W. Bush and his entourage to Liberia this morning will be stranded at their various destinations due to security measures being put in place by the Liberian government in collaboration with the American embassy near this capital.

Major routes that are regularly plied by commuters to get to the central part of the capitol have all been closed, while the regular traditional style of welcoming world leaders into the country; by lining the route of the capitol has been stopped.