Liberia: Rebels turn to armed robbery

Some 300 fighters of the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), apparently angered by delays to a disarmament programme that carries incentives for them, robbed people in the centre of the country at the weekend, a radio correspondent said Wednesday. The correspondent in central Liberia for Roman Catholic Radio Veritas cited victims as saying the LURD fighters beat up traders and commuters and fired indiscriminately in the air to scare them into handing over their money and personal effects.