Film makers face Liberian court on spying charges

President Charles Taylor: sensitive to criticism

A Channel Four film-crew has been arrested in Liberia on suspicion of spying, among them a British director and an award-winning Sierra Leonean journalist.

Authorities in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, claim that the crew filmed in various parts of the country without authorisation. Their hotel-rooms were searched and, according to the Deputy Information Minister, incriminating scripts were found.

The allegation is that the team arrived with the express intention of proving that Liberia has been involved in diamond-smuggling and gun-running.

Channel Four insists that they were involved in a legitimate journalistic exercise and that there was no basis for any charge of espionage.

Diamond smuggling

Award winning journalist Sorious Samoura

The political situation in Liberia is highly sensitive. The President, Charles Taylor, has regularly been accused of aiding and abetting rebel forces in Sierra Leone during the bloody civil war - particularly by providing an outlet for illegal diamond-sales.

When news of the arrests emerged, the Rev Jesse Jackson - President Clinton's special envoy to Africa - contacted President Taylor and asked him to release the four men. Afterwards, he reported that he had been given a sympathetic hearing.

Film-crew came with pre-manufactured evidence that Liberia was involved in gun running. Its espionage.

Milton Teahjay, deputy information minister

But in his interview for this programme, the Information Minister, Milton Teahjay, said that the four would not get preferential treatment. They would have to go through the due process of Liberian law. He declined to say how long that might take.

British ambassador on his way

The detained men have been visited by Britain's Honorary Consul in Monrovia, and Britain's Ambassador to the Ivory Coast is travelling to Liberia to look after their interests.

David Barrie: one of four held

A Channel Four spokesman, Matt Baker, told us he expected the team to appear in court some time today. Lawyers have been sent to Monrovia to help with the defence.

Mr Baker denied that the filming was targeting the Liberian Government: he explained that the trip forms part of a three-part series in which African journalists are reporting on the state of African affairs.

Useful links

Channel Four

Liberia Net