Liberian president not likely to free jailed journalists, official says

Sorious Samura

In this story: Bail hearing delayed Mandela talks to Taylor RELATED STORIES, SITES

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Liberian President Charles Taylor will not act to pre-empt a trial of four journalists being held in his country on charges of spying, a Liberian official told CNN on Tuesday.

"I don't think the president would want to intervene," said William Bull, Liberia's ambassador to the United States. "After the trial, a free and fair trail, is held and a decision is taken by the courts ... then he will have an opportunity to use his prerogative as the president of Liberia," Bull said. He was interviewed on the CNN news program "Q & A."

AUDIO Liberia's ambassador to the United States says the four journalists arrested will stand trial 640k/29 sec. AIFF or WAV sound The Rev. Jesse Jackson appealed to Liberian President Charles Taylor on behalf of the journalists 620k/30 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Listen to Sorious Samura talk about his goals as an African journalist (prior to his arrest) 537K/25 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     MESSAGE BOARD Journalists at risk

Government prosecutors allege the four, including award-winning producer Sorious Samura of Sierra Leone who produced "Cry Freetown" for CNN, came to Liberia this month intent on preparing a "damaging and injurious" story against the West African nation.

Besides Samura, the accused are identified as Briton David Barrie, the director; Zimbabwean-born cameraman Timothy Lambon; and South African cameraman Gugulakhe Radebe. They are employed by London-based Insight News Television.

Legal sources say the four journalists, all working on a documentary for CNN and Britain's Channel Four network, face up to 10 years in jail if convicted.

Liberia has accused the crew of filming in areas where they were not permitted to work, seeking to damage Liberia's image and to falsely link Taylor to diamond smuggling and gun running in neighboring Sierra Leone's civil war.

The four were detained Monday and charged with espionage when Liberian officials searched their rooms after the journalists reportedly refused to hand over a copy of the documentary they were making.

The ambassador said "incriminating evidence" was found during the search, but he refused to say what that evidence was.

"They have violated the laws of he country, and they will be subjected to the due process of the law," he said.

Bail hearing delayed

The journalists' lawyer, Varney Sherman, said Tuesday he is optimistic the journalists will be released on bail after a hearing Wednesday. "The law is very clear that espionage is a bailable offense," he told CNN.

Sherman said the hearing, originally set for Tuesday, was postponed by Judge Timothy Swope.

Sherman described the journalists as "upbeat" and hopeful. He also said he is confident they will get a fair trial. "I've been practicing law here for 20 years, and I'm very comfortable with the system," he said.

Mandela talks to Taylor

Bull's comments came after former South African President Nelson Mandela on Tuesday urged Taylor to release the journalists.

Mandela's spokeswoman, Zelda la Grange, said Mandela had made the appeal during a phone conversation with Taylor.

"Mr. Mandela said that even if President Taylor had a watertight case against the journalists, it would be a wonderful gesture from President Taylor if he could pardon and release them," la Grange said.

Mandela also told Taylor such a move would enhance his image and that of his country.

She said Taylor replied that there was "clear evidence in the case" but that he would need a day or two to investigate the matter and that he would then get back to Mandela.

The case has drawn angry international reaction. British Foreign Office minister Peter Hain warned Liberia the men's detention had put the country on a collision course with the international community and called for their immediate release.

"They are not spies, they are journalists, and this is an attack on international press freedom," he told BBC radio.

Asked if his country was willing to risk international isolation to pursue the case, Bull responded, "This is a fundamental principle of all states, and I think it's unfair to expect Liberia to do anything short of that. ... We are prepared to have representatives come in and participate, if need be, in the trial, but we will not permit pressures to be brought to bear unduly."

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, U.S. special envoy to Africa, said Tuesday that he, too, has asked Taylor to use his presidential powers to gain the journalists' release.

Taylor "told me that he will take my appeal and Mr. Mandela's into high consideration," Jackson said on the CNN program. "I hope that there's no cynical scenario where they become trophies in some other, bigger power play."

Jackson has intervened successfully in the region in the past, when he asked Liberia to help gain the release of 500 U.N. peacekeeping troops taken hostage in Sierra Leone.

Jackson said after listening to Bull's remarks that he was "disappointed that the process is going to be played out."

"This can only hurt Liberia," Jackson said.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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