Liberia and neighbors discuss border incursions

MONROVIA, Liberia (Reuters) -- Uneasy neighbors Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea have begun fresh talks on border security following raids by Liberian dissidents from Guinea, a Liberian official said on Tuesday.

The meeting of the Mano River Union Security Council in Monrovia, requested by Liberia following this month's attacks, had been called for Saturday, but the absence of a Guinean representative had delayed it.

"The meeting finally started on Monday evening. Guinea is being represented by its consul-general to Liberia," Charles Maltadi, director of communication at the justice ministry, told Reuters in the Liberian capital.

Sierra Leone and Liberia set up the Mano River Union in 1973 to boost cooperation. Guinea joined later.

Since then, Liberia and Sierra Leone have been ravaged by civil wars and mutual suspicion has dominated the relationship among the three neighbors.

Sierra Leone accuses Liberia of supporting rebels fighting there. Liberia has accused Guinea and Sierra Leone of harboring exiles bent on toppling its own government.

Liberia says that rebels opposed to President Charles Taylor, who launched the civil war there in 1989 and finally won power in 1997 multi-party elections, have been active in Lofa County in the north west for the past 10 days.

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