Truth Commission submits report on Liberia war

Last Updated on Friday, 03 July 2009 21:30 Friday, 03 July 2009 21:24

Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission submitted to parliament on Wednesday its final report on crimes and human rights abuses committed during the country's devastating civil wars.

Its findings and recommendations will be published in "at least three major local daily newspapers shortly," the panel said in a statement, without identifying the publications or date of release.

"The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia has presented its final report containing findings, determinations and recommendations made by the Commission to the National Legislature," it said.

The public release of the report is being delayed because not all commission members agree on its recommendations, sources close to the panel and the parliament said.

The commission was set up in 2006 to probe war crimes and rights violations during the back-to-back civil wars that ravaged Liberia between 1989 and 2003 and left around 250,000 people dead.

In past years, it has heard from key figures in the conflict, including some warlords, but it cannot force anyone to take the stand nor judge those who testify before. But it can recommend they be prosecuted in its final report.

In January commission members had already said they would be recommending a special court be set up to try those guilty of war crimes and human rights abuses during the conflict.

Recently, Prince Johnson, a former warlord turned senator, warned again that he would resist any attempt to prosecute him. "I am saying again that any attempt to arrest me, there will be trouble," he told journalists.

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