afrol News, 7 July - The Liberian presidency is outraged by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations seeking to ban President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf from holding public office for 30 years, for allegedly backing rebels during the country’s brutal civil war.

According to report released by Commission yesterday, Ms Sirleaf’s was included among the top players who had financed the warring factions in Liberia.

Liberia Information Minister Lawrence Bropleh said President Sirleaf was still reading the TRC final report, but that she has taken note of the recommendation about her.

“She’s not only has seen that report, she has been listening to many Liberians who are very astonished because of that part of the report, many are concerned that this is a democratically elected sitting president,” he said.

Mr Bropleh said Liberians elected President Sirleaf in 2005 even though they knew she had admitted being one of the financiers of Charles Taylor’s rebel movement.

The Commission also called for the prosecution of all warring faction leaders and 98 other associates for gross human rights violations and war crimes allegedly perpetrated in the 1980s.

In February Ms Sirleaf appeared before the commission and admitted that she had collected funds for former president Charles Taylor rebellion against military ruler Samuel Doe in the late 1980s, but has however denied being a member of the group.

The killing of Mr Doe in 1990 sparked more than a decade of violence between warring factions in which killed 250,000 people.

The Commission was established in 2003 under the Accra Comprehensive Peace Accord to identify the root causes of the Liberian civil war and determine those who responsible in committing domestic and international crimes.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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