Reuters: Liberia News

UPDATE 1-Charles Taylor says West manipulating war crimes courts

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:18:34 +0000

* Convicted of war crimes, Taylor attends sentencing hearing

Taylor to reject call for 80-year sentence

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:34:14 +0000

AMSTERDAM, May 16 (Reuters) - Former Liberian President Charles Taylor will on Wednesday tell judges he bears no responsibility for atrocities during Sierra Leone's 11-year civil war, rejecting the prosecution's demand for an 80-year sentence in a maximum-security British jail.

UPDATE 1-Seven UN peacekeepers shot at Congo protest

Mon, 14 May 2012 22:42:18 +0000

KINSHASA, May 14 (Reuters) - Seven United Nations peacekeepers in Congo were wounded when gunmen opened fire at a protest in the East of the country on Monday, drawing condemnation from the U.N. Security Council.

FACTBOX-Key political risks to watch in the Gulf of Guinea

Fri, 11 May 2012 18:36:14 +0000

DAKAR, May 11 (Reuters) - The Gulf of Guinea - a growing source of oil, cocoa and metals - spans more than a dozen West African countries, many ravaged by civil wars and coups. The region faces increasing piracy threats, drug smuggling and political uncertainty.

UPDATE 3-Pirates seize Greek-owned tanker off Oman

Fri, 11 May 2012 15:09:54 +0000

* MT Smyrni loaded near 1 mln barrles of crude - shipping records

Taylor's defence: 80-yr jailing request "vindictive"

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:49:29 +0000

AMSTERDAM, May 11 (Reuters) - Lawyers for Charles Taylor, the former Liberian president convicted of crimes against humanity, described the 80-year jail term demanded by prosecutors as "vindictive" on Friday, calling for judges to give him a fair sentence.

Pirates seize laden Greek oil tanker off Oman

Fri, 11 May 2012 07:12:42 +0000

NAIROBI, May 11 (Reuters) - Pirates have hijacked a Greek-owned oil tanker carrying 135,000 metric tonnes of crude oil while it was transiting the Arabian Sea off Oman, the vessel's manager said.

Soccer-Senegal's coach steps down after rejecting contract

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:43:30 +0000

DAKAR, May 10 - Newly appointed Senegal soccer coach Pierre Lechantre has stepped down from the post after two weeks, saying the contract terms offered were not adequate.

U.K., Indonesian, Liberian leaders to head UN panel

Wed, 09 May 2012 22:13:47 +0000

UNITED NATIONS, May 9 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf will head a panel to advise the United Nations on global development beyond 2015, the world body said on Wednesday.

UPDATE 1-Prosecutors seek 80-yr sentence for Charles Taylor

Thu, 03 May 2012 22:01:08 +0000

* Prosecution cites lengthy period crimes committed (Recasts, adds details, analyst quotes)