LIBERIA BACKS DEATH PENALTY LAW

Liberia defended a controversial new law introducing the death penalty for those convicted of violent armed robbery, saying its people had become "dehumanised" after a brutal civil war. Deputy minister of information Gabriel Williams said that the law, which took effect last week, was a response to public outcry over the growing crime rate. "This is what Liberian people want. You can do your own survey you will realise that this is the will of the majority," Williams said. "To Amnesty International and other human rights groups I will say that at the appropriate time the government will review this to make it more co-missive with the circumstances of the time," he added.