More swoops in Liberia

Press, 16 April 1980, Page 8

More swoops in Liberia

NZPA-Reuter Monrovia Liberia’s new leaders have arrested another 20 officials and Cabinet Ministers from President' William Tolbert’s administration on charges of [treason, corruption, and human-rights violation. Informed sources in the I capital, Monrovia, said • several other former officials had appeared before a special six-man tribunal. President Tolbert was killed in Saturday’s coup, which was led by Army Master Sergeant Samuel Doe, who has pledged to build a society based on justice and human dignity. “We know we cannot do everything for the people at all times, but the people expect the Government' to do its best for them,” he said in a radio broadcast. The country’s borders and airports remained closed, and only a few shops and businesses were open yesterday, despite the new Government’s appeals for a resumption of normal work. The new Government said the 20 arrested yesterday in-

eluded former Cabinet Ministers. Among those detained were the former Planning and Economic Affairs Minister, Mr Franklin Neal; the former Finance Minister and Air Liberia chairman, Mr James Philip; the former Secretary of the Treasury, Mr Charles Sherman; and the former Budget Director, Mr Frank Stewart. Three days ago some of the detained officials were stripped and paraded naked before a jeering crowd, but yesterday Master Sergeant Doe said such displays were prohibited. Three former members of the Tolbert Cabinet have been given posts in the new administration, .and a People’s Redemption Council has been formed to act as a legislative body. In Washington, the United States State Department spokesman, Mr Hodding Carter, said the United States regretted the death of President Tolbert in the coup, and■ added that the United States had urged the new Government to avoid policies of re-' venge.