Amnesty for Liberian exiles

President Charles Taylor hopes opponents would 'come home'

Liberia's President Charles Taylor has granted an amnesty to all treason suspects in exile as well as to rebels fighting in the north of the country.

I hope it (amnesty) is not a political stunt

Former faction leader

Prominent among those living abroad are former militia leader Roosevelt Johnson, a former faction leader Alhaji Kromah and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who Mr Taylor beat in the 1997 presidential polls.

But Alhaji Kromah told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that charges against him had been bogus and he hoped the amnesty "is not all a PR (Public Relations) stunt".

He also called for the release of those jailed for their involvement in the 1998 rebellion.

Last week Mr Taylor freed three of the 13 prisoners allegedly involved in the rebellion.

Sanctions

In his independence day announcement Mr Taylor said: "Wherever you are, I am the president for all. Come home brothers and sisters, come home. If you are in the bush fighting lay down your arms and come."

About 60,000 refugees fled northern Liberia into Guinea

Fighting in the northern county of Lofa intensified last year and the government says an estimated 60,000 people have fled the area.

Mr Taylor's speech comes as a team from the United Nations is studying ways of tightening sanctions against Liberia.

A correspondent for the BBC in Monrovia says that the sanctions are biting.

They were imposed In May following allegations by the UN Security Council that Liberia was helping rebels in Sierra Leone in exchange for diamonds.