Liberia: Ellen Seeks Corruption-Free Officials

As she prepares to take office on January 16, 2006, President-in-waiting Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf says officials wishing to work in her government will have to abide by a code of conduct that will guide them against corruption, dishonesty, inefficiency and human rights abuses. "Anybody who will work for the government will have to abide by that code of conduct," she told reporters Saturday in the village of Korma, her ancestral home, over 15 kilometers northwest of Monrovia, where she had traveled to thank the people "for standing behind me" in her quest for the presidency. "If they (officials) violate public trust through dishonesty, inefficiency and human rights abuse, they will be penalized in accordance with the law as prescribed by the code of conduct."