Liberian president visits Cote d'Ivoire on border issues

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf left here Thursday for Abidjan, the economic capital of Cote d'Ivoire, on a day-long visit to discuss bilateral ties including border issues. An official statement said President Sirleaf is expected to hold urgent consultations on border-related issues with her counterpart Alassane Ouattara. The Liberian leader, according to the statement, is being accompanied by Minister of National Defense Brownie Samukai, Minister of Justice Christiana Tah, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Edward B. McClain Jr. and National Security Adviser H. Boima Fahnbulleh. Cote d'Ivoire rebels fighting against President Ouattara have used the Liberia-Cote d'Ivoire border to launch several attacks, killing 50 people including seven Nigerien peacekeepers. The consultations are being held at a time when Liberian police have arrested a Liberian mercenary for alleged involvement in attacks in Cote d'Ivoire. The rebel field commander, Bobby Sarpee Julu, son of former executive mansion guard commander General Charles Julu, was arrested Monday in the northeastern town of Ganta while recruiting Liberian mercenaries to fight for rebels in Cote di'Ivoire. At the same time, Sampson Yeaten, brother of Charles Taylor's former feared executive mansion guard commander Benjamin Yeaten, is being hunted on suspicion of a rebel recruitment mission in Monrovia.