DATE=03/16/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-287643

TITLE= LIBERIA-TALKS (S)

BYLINE= LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Talks aimed at bringing reconciliation to Liberia have ended in the Nigerian, capital, Abuja. V-O-A's Luis Ramirez has more from our West Africa bureau in Abidjan.

TEXT: The talks brought Liberian government officials together with opposition leaders, a number of whom have been living in exile saying they fear persecution by President Charles Taylor's security forces.

At the end of the two-day meeting, participants issued a statement saying all sides agreed the government needs to work on improving security in the country in preparation for next year's presidential elections.

Government officials and opposition leaders called for a cease-fire between the government forces and rebels with the group known as Liberians United for Reconciliation and Development, or LURD. The government says LURD rebels stepped up their attacks on areas north of the Liberian capital, Monrovia, over the past month.

Representatives of the insurgent group did not attend the Abuja gathering.

The talks - sponsored by ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States - were meant to begin preparations for a reconciliation conference that is to be held in Monrovia later this year.

NEB/LR/MEM