Fighting between Liberian government forces and armed opponents was reported on Monday to be moving closer to the capital, Monrovia, humanitarian sources told IRIN. Attempts by humanitarian workers to conduct a rapid needs assessment among the internally displaced people (IDPs) were delayed due to the security situation. But it was estimated that some 6,000 IDPs had reached Ganta in Nimba County while another 5,000 had reached Totoka, south of Gbarnga. The total number of IDPs in Liberia was estimated to be at least 40,000.

Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned by the recent closure of The Analyst, an independent newspaper based in the capital, Monrovia. During the early morning hours of April 25, police shut down The Analyst and ransacked the publication's offices. According to an Associated Press (AP) report, Monrovia police chief Paul Mulbah said the ban was permanent and refused to give reasons for the closure. "The paper is closed and will not print again. This is a government order," Mulbah told the AP.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the United Nations Security Council to extend its arms embargo against Liberia, saying the army has committed war crimes. These atrocities, HRW said, included the execution of scores of civilians, widespread rape of women and girls, some as young as 12, and systematic burning of villages.

One of Liberia’s most prominent human rights lawyers, Tiawan Gongloe, has been brutalized in police custody and is hospitalized as a result, Human Rights Watch has said. Police guards remain near his hospital bed, and the police director has announced that Mr. Gongloe remains in police custody without charge pending an investigation.

The International Crisis Group (ICG), a leading
conflict prevention body, has reported that Liberia is the main cause of
instability among the Mano River Union countries of West Africa; and
recommended that France, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the United States, the
United Nations, international donors and civil society take corrective action.

Less than 24 hours following the arrest and detention of human rights lawyer Tiawon S. Gongloe, the independent Analyst Newspaper was on 25th April closed down by the police.

A former President of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), Sam Van Kesselly, is calling on Government to "reopen The Journalist Newspaper to help buttress national efforts at creating the needed enabling environment for socioeconomic, political and cultural growth."

Liberian refugees fleeing to Guinea are in extremely poor physical condition and up to 20 percent of them suffer from malnutrition, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees reported on Tuesday.

The WFP has donated a vehicle, computer, printer and other administrative items worth some US$36,000 to support a community-based school feeding project.

A meeting to prepare for a reconciliation conference involving Liberia's political groups, civil society organisations and warring parties is due to begin on Thursday in Abuja, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) reported.

A Liberian democratic pressure group, Forum for Civic Education and Democratic Empowerment (FEDEC), based in Accra, Ghana, has called for dialogue between the Liberian government and LURD to end the hostilities in Northwestern Liberia, the restructuring of the Liberian Elections Commission, and urged Liberians both at home and in the Diaspora to intensify their struggle for good governance in Liberia.

Judge Felicia Coleman of the criminal Court "A" has for the second time in less than one week prevented journalists from covering proceedings at the court. Yesterday, she denied journalists coverage of the treason trial involving some Liberians nabbed in connection with street fighting involving supporters of former faction leader Roosevelt Johnson and forces of the Liberian Government.

In a 21 February 2002 letter to Liberian President Charles G. Taylor, CPJ expressed deep concern over the recent arrest of three journalists and the suspension of their newspaper, which had recently criticized the current state of emergency in Liberia.

As if their mother land was cursed that wars would always befall it, which unfold themselves into untold suffering, agony and despair; thousands of Liberians have once again taken unto their heels as fighting intensifies between Government forces and rebels of the Liberia United for Reconcilation and Democracy (LURD).

Liberian journalists on Monday called on President Charles Taylor to lift the state of emergency he imposed on 8 February, saying there was growing suspicion that the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country was being stage-managed.

The latest bout of fighting to afflict West Africa is believed to have displaced tens of thousands of people, say UNHCR. The outbreak of fighting occurred in Liberia's Sawmill area, 100 kms north of the capital, Monrovia. Those displaced have fled south to the area around Klay junction, some 35 kilometres outside Monrovia where there could now be as many as 100,000 displaced people, according to Liberian government figures quoted by UNHCR. Those uprooted by the fighting include Sierra Leonean refugees who had sought refuge in Liberia. Since fighting intensified in Liberia's northern counties in December more than 6,000 new arrivals have been registered by UNHCR in various camps around Monrovia.

Liberia's Defence Ministry has confirmed reports of intense fighting since Friday between government forces and dissidents in the north and northwest of the country.

Heads of customs administrations have been reminded that they are charged with a responsibility to promote integrity and must at all times display leadership in preventing and rooting out corruption.