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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Ivorian Envoy Wants Liberian Mercenaries Extradited

MONROVIA, 15 January 2003 (IRIN) - Cote d'Ivoire's consul general to Liberia Prosper Kotchi has called on the Ivorian and Liberian governments to work collaboratively for the extradition of Liberian mercenaries involved in the conflict in his country.

Kotchi told a news conference on Tuesday in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, that Liberian mercenaries were actively fighting alongside rebel groups, but denied the involvement of the Liberian government in fueling the war in his country "as it is being rumoured".

He termed the rumours "false, baseless and irresponsible" and said his government did not accuse its Liberian counterpart of involvement in the conflict, but only pointed out the presence of Liberian mercenaries fighting with Ivoirian rebels.

He also called on the Liberian Justice Ministry to impound all vehicles with Ivoirian license plates in Liberia, adding that "this would discourage people from using the war to loot Cote d'Ivoire".

Kotchi, however, said the conflict in his country came out of international conspiracy through neighbouring Burkina Faso. He also said a former Revolutionary United Front commander Sam Boackarie was fighting along with one of the rebel movements in Guiglo, western Cote d'Ivoire noting that, "he is looting and from where he came from we don't know".

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