Liberian ex-ministers travel ban

President Johnson-Sirleaf has promised to fight corruption

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia has told former transitional government members to stay in the country pending a financial audit.

All former officials are to be audited in an attempt to ensure accountability and transparency, the government says.

Last week the president said she would investigate allegations that officials had sold government property.

The interim regime ruled from the 2003 ousting of Charles Taylor until Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf took office in January.

Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf came to power promising to tackle the corruption that has retarded the development of resource-rich Liberia for decades.

Policy

"Consistent with its policy of ensuring accountability and transparency in government, the government of Liberia will shortly commission a comprehensive audit of all government agencies and public corporations," a government statement said.

"In order to avoid a situation where vital questions are not answered during the audit, the government hereby calls on all former officials ... to remain in the country until such audit is commissioned and concluded."

Competition for diamonds and timber in Liberia and neighbouring Sierra Leone fuelled a 14-year war in Liberia, which ended in 2003 with the election of former warlord Charles Taylor.

Mr Taylor resigned and sought exile last year as a new rebellion threatened to overrun the capital, Monrovia. A peace deal led to the election of Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf.