Liberia denies $30m is 'missing'

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf takes on a huge challenge

Liberia's interim government has challenged a United Nations report alleging that millions of dollars is unaccounted for by its administration.

Information Minister C William Allen admitted some discrepancies but said most of the $30m was being transferred between departments.

He said the government was preparing a full response to the allegations.

President elect Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf takes over the running of Liberia after 14 years of civil war on 16 January.

The new parliament has approved a motion calling on the transitional government to undergo an audit and for key officials to be barred from leaving the country until the audit is carried out.

The transitional government led by Gyude Bryant and including members of the various armed factions took over in October 2003 after the war ended.

After previous allegations of corruption, donors have imposed tight conditions on further funding.

Challenges

"There are quite a few inaccuracies in the report," Mr Allen told the BBC's Network Africa programme.

The report had suggested there was a shortfall of $10m from the sale of iron ore, $9m from the maritime affairs department, and $12m from tax revenue in the Liberian interim government's accounts.

"Just because the money was transferred [between ministries] does not mean that money can be missing," he said.

But he said if errors were found after their investigation, the government would be prepared to admit to them.

The post-war challenges for Mrs Johnson Sirleaf are enormous.

The country is riddled with corruption, and lacks any decent public services including piped water or electricity.