Liberian security forces shot and wounded a US embassy military attache in Monvoria at the weekend, after he reportedly smashed through a checkpoint near the presidential palace, officials said Monday.
Liberia said it regretted the incident, which occurred early Sunday.
Liberian Foreign Minister Monie Captan told US ambassador Bismarck Myrick during a meeting late Sunday that the Liberian government was "concerned about the incident," a statement said.
Captan said he "regretted" the "unfortunate" affair, adding: "This isolated incident will not undermine Liberia's relations with the United States."
A source at the foriegn ministry said assistant military attache Sergeant James Newton was shot at after he tried to "bulldoze" through a checkpoint at 3:15 am on Sunday.
The statement said the situation "would have been avoided if the checkpoint had not been smashed and normal security procedures not violated."
The Liberian government said Newton had been flown to Abidjan in Ivory Coast for treatment.
US diplomats in Monrovia and Abidjan refused comment on the shooting -- MONROVIA (AFP)
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