Liberia to Free TV Crew

M O N R O V I A, Aug. 24 -- After meeting throughout the day, defense lawyers reached agreement with the Liberian government today that could soon lead to the release of a British television crew detained on espionage charges, a source close to the defense said.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to give further details. But an announcement was expected Friday at anews conference called by the Justice Ministry.

A leading Liberian independent radio station, DC Radio, also reported that a breakthrough had been made in the case. Government officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Earlier today, a Liberian soccer team said their star, GeorgeWeah, had offered to intervene to help secure the release of thefour-member crew.

The former world player of the year was returning home to appearfor Liberia in a match against Mauritius on Sunday and hoped tomeet President Charles Taylor on Monday to argue the case, saidChris Bird, chief executive for the Manchester City soccer team.

Soccer Star to Help

“The meeting has not been confirmed yet, but he knows thepresident and is obviously a very well-known character inLiberia,” Bird said.

“He wants to try his best to do what he can. He wants to helpthe families in what he realizes is an awful situation for them.”

Weah is a major celebrity in Liberia, where he has donated largeamounts of time and money to rebuild the country in the wake of its devastating seven-year civil war.

Bail was denied Wednesday for the journalists from London-basedInsight News Television — two Britons, a South African and a Sierra Leonean.

The judge said the four could not be granted bail because theycould face the death penalty. But defense attorney Varney Shermansaid the most the journalists could get is 10 years.

The journalists who were working on a documentary film werearrested Friday at their hotel in Monrovia, capital of Liberia, andthey were charged Monday. They had been in Liberia three weeks when arrested.