Amnesty accuses Liberia of torture

The human rights group Amnesty International has accused the security forces in Liberia of brutal treatment of government critics.

In a new report, Amnesty said the Liberian security forces had targeted students, journalists and human rights defenders, using torture.

The organisation said in addition that women fleeing areas in the north where fighting has been taking place have reported being tortured by the security forces, including repeated rape.

The report called on President Charles Taylor's government to end what it said was the impunity enjoyed by the security forces.

It also urged the international community to continue to put pressure on Monrovia.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service