Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

MONROVIA, January 6 -- The Unity Party has disclosed that United States Secretary of State Dr. Condoleeza Rice has seconded a team of security personnel from her security detail at the State Department to Liberia to beef up VIP security protection for Liberian President-elect Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

According to a press release issued in Monrovia yesterday by the office of the spokesman of the Unity Party (UP), the team, which is already in the country, will also train and build the capacity of Madam Sirleaf's local security detail as well as personnel of the Special Security Service (SSS).

UP indicated that the team is working in close contact with authorities of the Justice Ministry, the Special Security Service (SSS), as well as Madam Sirleaf's local security team.

“The gesture on the part of Dr. Rice and the US Government is one of the outcomes of Madam Sirleaf's recent visit to the US during which the fragile security environment in the country and the need to adequately protect the soon to be inaugurated President-elect were discussed,” the release signed by Mr. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan stated.

The U.S. security team is expected to phase over full responsibility for Madam Sirleaf's security to the local security outfits after the completion of the training and capacity building exercises and when the security climate in the country is adjudged normal.

Meanwhile, UP said that during the President-elect's recent visits to the West African sub-region, she also solicited training and capacity building assistance for the SSS and other members of the Liberian security apparatus from President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and President John Kuffour of Ghana.

According to the release, the two Presidents responded favorably to the Liberian President-elect's request.

Reacting to allegations from the Progressive Action for Change (PAC) that Madam Sirleaf has prevailed upon Justice Minister Kabineh Ja'neh to arrest Representative-elect Edwin Melvin Snowe on corruption charges, UP indicated that it viewed the allegations as unfounded and unfortunate.

“If the PAC has any issues with the Ministry of Justice concerning Mr. Snowe, it is only appropriate that they address their concerns to the relevant authorities of the National Transitional Government of Liberia, rather than concoct lies and heap unsubstantiated allegations on the President-elect,” the release added.

UP maintained that Madam Sirleaf is preoccupied with the onerous challenges of taking the Liberian economy from the doldrums, restoring basic social services, transforming the unemployed into employees and employers, reducing the dismal illiteracy rate, etc. She has no luxury of time to “witch-hunt” Mr. Snowe or any other Liberian, the release added.

Additionally, the UP spokesman stated that the PAC's allegation that Madam Sirleaf received US$3M (three million US dollars) from Libyan Leader Col. Muammar Khadafi for the inauguration is a blatant and reckless falsehood intended to draw the good character of Madam Sirleaf into disrepute.

“The President-elect has championed transparency and accountability throughout her public life and intends to make accountability, transparency, and financial rectitude the hallmarks of her regime,” the release concluded.

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