Liberia on Monday temporarily shut down a private radio station for airing anti-American comments as the country marked the second day of a mourning period for victims of the world's deadliest terrorist attack.
Sources told AFP that police swooped down on the office of the DC 101.1 radio station in downtown Monrovia and took away T. Max Jlateh, host of a talk show titled DC Talk.
The action followed irate comments by callers on the terror attacks in New York and Washington.
One caller said: "What is so much about America? People are dying here and America has not cared to comment."
Another said: "America deserves it because they were in the forefront in the imposition of sanctions which is causing severe hardship on Liberians," referring to UN sanctions imposed on Monrovia for its alleged support to Sierra Leonean rebels.
A third said: "If we are to condemn terrorist acts we must condemn America because she is the sponsor of most terrorist acts in the world today," while another said it was "time for America to suffer too for what she has been doing to other people."
Liberian police chief Paul Mulbah, who had threatened on Sunday to "arrest and prosecute" anyone caught selling or buying the photo of the prime suspect, Saudi-born Osama bin Laden, defended the radio station's closure.
He said he believed there were "Islamic fundamentalists in Liberia because only Islamic fundamentalists can utter such inciting remarks" and said the temporary closure of the radio station was warranted as Monrovia did not want to spoil ties with Washington.
On Sunday, Liberian President Charles Taylor, known for his anti-US stance, condemned the September 11 attacks and called for three days of national mourning for the victims.
Taylor also called the attacks a "war on the conscience of global peace and the foundations of human morality."
"We share the sorrow, the distress, the suffering of the American people ... in the name of humanity, love and affection which have no boundaries, we identify with you and share your anxiety," Taylor said.
He recalled the historical ties between Liberia and America which he noted "transcend many generations.
"Your losses are our losses, your grief is our grief, where you go there we will go, where you stand there we will stand, your God shall be our God, your people shall be our people."
Liberia was founded in 1822 by freed American slaves and, although never officially becoming a US colony, was granted full independence on July 26, 1847.
Taylor said the tragedy opened "new opportunities in our concerted efforts to combat the generic, demonic designs of global terrorism.
"Today it is America, tomorrow it could be any other country. We therefore call on the United Nations to organize a global conference to discuss means of combatting global terrorism...” -- MONROVIA (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
