Military

DATE=6/24/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=LIBERIA TALKS (L-O)

NUMBER=2-304675

BYLINE=NICO COLOMBANT

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Liberia's government has accused rebels of massing fighters near the capital Monrovia to prepare a new attack. V-O-A's Nico Colombant reports from our west Africa bureau in Abidjan that Liberian peace talks in Ghana appear to be breaking down.

TEXT: Liberia's defense ministry alleges rebels are recruiting mercenaries from Sierra Leone and Guinea to reinforce their positions.

The rebels, who control most of Liberia, have been repeatedly pushed back by militias and government forces when trying to capture the capital, Monrovia. But fighting around the city has stopped since earlier this month.

Both sides have accused each other of violating a ceasefire on other fronts.

The accusations come as peace talks in Ghana to establish a transitional government without President Charles Taylor are faltering, with rebels threatening to boycott the talks.

The rebels are accusing west African mediators of failing to hold Mr. Taylor to a ceasefire deal signed last week.

On Friday, Mr. Taylor said he would stay until the end of his term, which expires in January and might run again when new elections are held. Rebels say they only signed the ceasefire agreement after getting assurances Mr. Taylor would step down immediately.

A rebel leader in northern Liberia, Edward Farley, says if the situation in Ghana deteriorates further, full-scale fighting could resume in Liberia.

/// FARLEY ACT ///

What is happening in Ghana now is something political and what is happening in Liberia is military. Whatever happens in Ghana we will expect good results, but when Mr. Taylor is unprepared to leave under the terms and references of the ceasefire there will be problems in Liberia, continuously.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Taylor has also warned peace talks will fail if a U-N-backed court in Sierra Leone does not lift an indictment against him for war crimes.

The special U-N court in Freetown has refused to lift the indictment. Instead, it has increased pressure on Mr. Taylor, asking neighboring countries to arrest Mr. Taylor if he leaves Liberia.

Monday, Swiss authorities acting in accordance with a request from the U-N court froze several bank accounts allegedly linked to Mr. Taylor.

It is not known how much money is involved in the action at this stage. The latest Swiss statistics indicate its banks hold more than one-billion dollars belonging to Liberian interests.

Mr. Taylor, himself a former rebel leader, has been accused of smuggling weapons, diamonds, and timber in west Africa since the late 1980s, charges he denies.

Non-governmental organizations are calling for the establishment of an international peacekeeping force in Liberia, but an initial cease-fire verification team has been delayed in arriving. (SIGNED)

NEB/NC/KL/RAE