FBIS4-23388
"drafr108_e_94004"
FBIS-AFR-94-108
Daily Report
3 Jun 1994
WEST AFRICA
Liberia
Conflict Spills Into Guinea; Lofa Force Involved
Conflict Spills Into Guinea; Lofa Force Involved
AB0306193594 London BBC World Service in English 1705 GMT 3
Jun 94
AB0306193594
London BBC World Service
English
BFN
[Text] Once again, the conflict in Liberia seems to be
spilling across the border into neighboring Guinea. Some months
ago there were clashes on the Guinea side of the border
involving rival factions and ethnic groups fighting each other
in Liberia. There has been a fresh attack and a lot of
civilians have died. From Conakry, Foday Fofana telexed this
report:
Intelligence sources here said that the Lofa Defense Force,
LDF, which is fighting ULIMO [United Liberation Movement for
Democracy in Liberia] in Liberia's Upper Lofa County, has
launched an attack on the Guinean border town of Koyama, near
Zozo District. At least 30 civilians are thought to have died
in the attack. According to reports reaching Conakry today from
the town of Macenta, LDF rebels crossed into Guinea on Wednesday
[1 June] night and used automatic weapons in their attack.
Details of this assault are so far scanty and a team of
investigators from the Interior Ministry is expected to travel
to the area.
If this week's attack is proved to be the work of the LDF,
the movement will lose a lot of sympathy in Guinea, despite the
support it currently enjoys here from members of the Toma tribe.
Guinea closed all land borders with Liberia last year following
what was thought to be a ULIMO crossborder attack, which
resulted in the death of many Guinean civilians. Last year's
incursion sparked off vengeance attacks between the (Koniyakis)
who side with ULIMO and the Tomas who join forces with the LDF.