Liberia: Three government officials charged with siphoning off $3.5 million

The head of Liberia's Maritime Bureau was charged on Wednesday with siphoning off US $3.5 million - the first time a government official has appeared in court to face corruption allegations since the civil war ended two years ago. Western governments have warned that funding for reconstruction will be withheld if politicians continue to squander the cash or pocket resources designed to help the country's estimated three million population.