Bank Governor Quits, Speaker Issues Quarantine Orders 

12 May 04

The controversial Governor of the National Bank of Liberia, Elias Saleeby, has resigned. But the Speaker of the rebel dominated interim parliament, George Dweh, says he has instructed security forces to investigate Mr. Saleeby and that he should not leave the country without permission.

Such Kangaroo orders were common during the 1980s under the military dictatorship and it is not clear where Mr. Dweh, a rebel commander representing one of the rebel factions in the assembly and accused of many human rights violations, derives his authority to investigate and bar individuals from leaving the country.

Mr. Saleeby, who was appointed by Charles Taylor in 1997, has been replaced Mr Charles Greene, a member of the bank’s board.

Interim Charles Gyude Bryant had vowed to investigate Mr. Saleeby for alleged impropriety and allegations that the governor’s salary stood at about US$13,000 monthly. There were further allegations that Saleeby printed 650 million dollars Liberian banknotes without the authority of the NTLA.