Phone death threats have been received by members of Liberia's truth commission since recommending President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf be barred from office.

"Thanks for your report; but death awaits you," a text to commission chairman Jerome Verdier said.

"Your report has damaged our future," it continued.

According to BBC's Jonathan Paye-Layleh, some of them have turned off their mobile telephones and have gone into hiding.

The commission recommended in a recent report a 30-year ban for senior politicians for their role in the civil war.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up by President Johnson-Sirleaf after she was sworn into office in 2006.

It toured the country for three years, hearing the testimony of tens of thousands of people affected by the country's 14-year civil war.

No resignation

Mr Verdier told the BBC that he did not "want to raise alarm", therefore remained silent about the threats.

But commission spokesman James Kpargor had called a radio talk-show to complain about the death threats.

Ex-warlords, former fighters and officials who were recommended for prosecution have been hitting back at the truth commission on the radio since the report was released, the BBC reporter said.

Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf has admitted that she had backed former warlord Charles Taylor's rebellion 20 years ago, but a government spokesman said she would not resign.

"She is not going to resign. The president and the rest of us are reading the report. What I can tell you, is that President Sirleaf has tried to reconcile the country for the last two years," Laurence Bropleh told the AFP news agency.
 

Source: BBC