The government of Liberia has turned down a request for political asylum from
Ivory Coast's ousted military leader, General Robert Guei.


Guei's problem is that he has no friends, he upset so many people

BBC's Funmi Kou
A source close to the Liberian presidency said on Wednesday "the government
decided to turn down his request for security reasons and in the interest of
regional peace."

It was unclear from when the request for asylum was made.



Massive protests forced Guei out of office

General Guei was forced to flee a week ago in the face of massive street
protests after he attempted to claim victory in the controversial presidential
elections of 22 October.

Some 50 people are estimated to have died in clashes which erupted as General
Guei clung to power refusing to admit defeat by his main rival, new President
Laurent Gbagbo.

Subsequent bloodshed on ethnic and religious lines between Mr Gbagbo's
supporters and those of former prime minister Alassane Ouattara, who comes from
the Muslim north and had been barred from standing in the election, killed
another nearly 155 people.

The new head of the army and a former member of the junta, General Mathias Doue,
said at the weekend that the general was still in Ivory Coast.

Our correspondent in Abidjan said: "Guei's problem is that he has no friends, he
upset so many people."

In September, a senior delegation of African leaders was snubbed by General Guei
after visiting him in person to urge fair elections.

The former military ruler had been rumoured to be heading for Benin or Liberia.

Presidency sources in Nigeria said on Friday that ousted General Guei had also
requested asylum there and that the request was receiving attention.

Fleeing dictators

General Guei is the latest in a series of African dictators who have been forced
out of power through military coups or popular uprisings.



Amin ruled Uganda for eight years

Hissene Habre, the former dictator of Chad has been living in exile in Senegal
for the last 10 years since being thrown out by President Idriss Deby.

Somalia's President Mohammed Siad Barre was ousted in 1992 and forced to seek
asylum in neighbouring Kenya.

But his presence in the country triggered public outcry forcing him to flee to
Nigeria where he lived until his death in January 1995.

Ethiopia's Marxist military leader, Mengistu Haile Mariam was ousted in a
military coup in 1991. He is exiled in Zimbabwe.

Uganda's Idi Amin Dada who ruled for nearly eight years was forced out in 1979
and now lives in exile in Saudi Arabia.

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