UN monitors sanctions on Liberia

President Taylor denies sanction-busting allegations

United Nations officials are spending a week in Liberia to examine the impact of UN sanctions imposed on the country last year.

The sanctions include a ban on diamond exports, an arms embargo and restrictions on travel by senior Liberian officials.

They were imposed after Liberia was found to be arming rebels in Sierra Leone in exchange for diamonds.

President Charles Taylor has said the restrictions are hindering his ability to tackle a rebel insurgency in north-western Liberia.

Denial

As the UN team arrived in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, on Sunday, they were met by a crowd of about 1,000 protesters carrying placards demanding the immediate lifting of the sanctions.

Last October a UN report which spoke of widespread violations of the sanctions drew strong denials from Liberian officials, who said the country was in compliance.

The visit of the UN team comes as the Liberian army continues to fight rebels known as Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd).

Last week, the government said dozens of civilians died when the rebels attacked the town of Swehn, in Bomi county, 75km north-west of Monrovia.