Liberia elects rebel speaker

The new speaker says disarming former rebel fighters will be a priority

Liberia's transitional assembly has elected George Dweh - a founding member of the former rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) - as its new speaker.

Mr Dweh - who belongs to the movement's political wing and was the only candidate for the post - garnered 49 votes out of a possible 72.

He said that his first task in his new capacity would be to promote the process of national healing and disarmament in Liberia.

"I will go beyond the factional level so as to reach all the members of the assembly," Mr Dweh told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.

Atrocities

Mr Dweh's election on Monday comes six days after businessman Gyude Bryant was sworn-in as Liberia's new interim leader, tasked with steering the war-torn West African country to elections in 2005.

Mr Bryant heads a power-sharing government, including two rebel groups, members of the former government and the civilian opposition.

The other members of the government are yet to be officially named.

Human rights campaigners have expressed concerns about Mr Dweh's candidacy, accusing him of being linked to atrocities committed during Liberia's 14-year conflict.

The country's three armed factions and 18 political parties signed a power-sharing agreement on 18 August after the then president Charles Taylor's departure for exile in Nigeria.