Liberia: Disarmament to extend close to Ivorian border, Bryant says

The head of Liberia's transitional government, Gyude Bryant, said a programme to disarm former combatants would extend to eastern Liberia, close to the border with Cote d'Ivoire, before the end of the month. UN officials told IRIN that 49,000 combatants from the three-armed factions have disarmed so far. UNMIL estimated late last year that the factions had a total of 38,000 combatants, but subsequent official estimates have fluctuated up to 60,000.