on for the Transformation of Liberia or COTOL; Congress for
Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH]; Liberian Action Party or LAP
[H. Varney SHERMAN]; Liberty Party or LP [Charles BRUMSKINE];
National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN]; Unity Party or UP
[Charles CLARKE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Demobilized former military officers

International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU,
ITUC, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles A. MINOR
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald E. BOOTH
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point,
1000 Monrovia, 10
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [231] 226-370 through 226-380
FAX: [231] 226-148

Flag description:
11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating
with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in
the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag

Economy Liberia

Economy - overview:
Civil war and government mismanagement have destroyed much of
Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around
Monrovia. Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and
expertise with them. Some have returned, but many will not. Richly
endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate
favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter
of basic products - primarily raw timber and rubber. Local
manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope.
President JOHNSON SIRLEAF, a Harvard-trained economist, has taken
steps to reduce corruption, build support from international donors,
and encourage private investment. An embargo on timber exports has
been lifted, opening a source of revenue for the government, but
diamonds remain under UN sanctions. The reconstruction of
infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy
will largely depend on generous financial support and technical
assistance from donor countries.