Monrovia newspaper raided

Liberian court officials have raided the offices of a newspaper critical of President George Weah's government and arrested its employees. Editors and journalists at Frontpage Africa were detained for several hours at the civil court in the capital, Monrovia. The officials said they were acting in relation to a $1m civil lawsuit filed against the paper for allegedly publishing misleading material. Frontpage Africa said the arrest of its staff was an attack on press freedom and part of a government attempt to discredit its investigative journalism. The paper has exposed Weah’s refusal to declare his assets 'in disregard to the Code of Conduct', his construction of 'a dream house' and the refurbishment of his private resort in Jamaica. Managing editor Rodney Sieh rejected government’s denial of involvement in the raid. 'The denial is the oldest trick in the book. As we have seen in other countries across Africa, they hide behind civil lawsuits to strike and suppress the press,' he said.

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