Liberian court free suspected Ivorian mercenaries

A rural court in Liberia has released 76 Ivorians who were arrested early this month for allegedly training as mercenaries to subsequently launch attacks back home.

The magistrate court in Zwedru, south-eastern Liberia, released the men on Monday evening after they were found innocent of the charges.

Sources said no arms were found on the men during their arrest by Liberia’s special security unit when it launched a surprise attack on what it described as a “training base” along the border with Cote d’Ivoire.

The West Africa Democracy Radio report said UNHCR immediately transported the men to the Duogee Town refugee camp near Zwedru.

Liberia’s special security unit alleged that several others were still hiding in the forest along the porous border with Cote d’Ivoire.

The security outfit further alleged that the suspects were a mixture of Liberian ex-fighters and Ivorians.

Last year, scores of former Liberians, who fought alongside Ivorians loyal to President Laurent Gbagbo, were rounded up inside Liberia in possession of arms and ammunition.

The men were ostensibly fleeing an onslaught by the pro-Ouattara and former northern rebel groups during the upheaval that erupted following the refusal of Gbagbo to concede defeat in the presidential poll.

The wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire have produced thousands of young fighters most of who roam within the sub region.