Analysis: Charles Taylor and the journalists

Charles Taylor: Threatened by a diamond boycott

By BBC News Online's Justin Pearce

The four foreign journalists arrested in Liberia have been charged with spying and "criminal design".

But there are many indications that this may not be simply a case of a government protecting national security.

All four suspects are respected within their profession, and had accreditation to be working in Liberia.

Moreover, Liberia's President Charles Taylor has a reputation as a ruthless political operator, whose relationship both with his neighbours and with the West is currently at a low ebb.

Sorious Samura: Made documentary about Sierra Leone

Britain's Channel 4 TV company said it believed the the men did not have legal representation in court when the charges were brought against them.

Liberian journalists and opposition politicians have joined in the call for the release of the suspects.

"We need to improve international credibility of government. Our government has been accused of gun running and diamond smuggling. As a matter of good faith, the journalists should be released," an opposition politican told the BBC.

Troubled relations

In fact, Mr Taylor's international credibility problems could precisely be one of the motivating factors behind the arrests.

David Barrie: British journalist in custody

Charles Taylor is widely believed to be supporting Sierra Leone's notorious rebel group, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).

The Western powers initially supported a peace deal in Sierra Leone that viewed government and rebels as equal partners.

But attitudes have recently hardened against the rebels, after they refused to lay down their arms in accordance with the deal.

Ever the skilful political player, Charles Taylor gained points from this situation by using his contacts in the RUF to negotiate the release of the UN peacekeepers who had been captured by the rebels.

But the tide turned against the Liberian president with the announcement of a boycott of diamonds exported from Liberia.

Timothy Lambon: One of the four who face spying charges

The proponents of the boycott succeeded in convincing foreign diamond buyers that Liberia was a conduit for gems mined in rebel-held areas of Sierra Leone.

Liberian Deputy Information Minister Milton Teahjay has suggested that Western countries supporting the boycott had failed to prove the case against Liberia, and were therefore "now using international espionage individuals to come and pretend to be journalists".

Warning

Observers believe that in arresting the journalists, Liberia is trying to send a warning to foreigners that they should tone down their criticism of President Taylor and his government.

It is unlikely that Mr Taylor will try to do a deal by exchanging the journalists for arrested RUF officers - such a move would play into the hands of his critics by identifying him too closely with the RUF.

Our correspondent in Monrovia, Sam Howard, says many Liberians expect the journalists to be released on humanitarian grounds.

If this happens, the arrest will look in retrospect like a case of Mr Taylor flexing his muscles - and then trying to look like the nice guy.

If foreign news teams think twice about criticising Liberia in the future, then he will have achieved at least one of his aims.