Liberia orders Star Radio to close by Saturday

MONROVIA, Liberia (Reuters) -- The Liberian government has given privately owned Star Radio, whose broadcasts were halted in March after it was accused of waging "cyber war" against the country, a final ultimatum to close by Saturday.

A statement from the post and telecommunications administration gave the station until 5 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT) Saturday "to dismantle your equipment ... so as to avoid embarrassment."

It did not say what would happen if the radio failed to comply.

Star Radio was established in 1997 by the Hirondelle Foundation, a Swiss-based non-governmental organization.

President Charles Taylor accused Star of spreading negative news about Liberia via its Internet service.

A second station, Radio Veritas, which is run by the Catholic Church, was suspended at the same time but later allowed to resume broadcasts.

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