Irish soldiers arrest Liberian rebel commanders

Irish soldiers on a UN-mandated peace-enforcement mission in Liberia have arrested two rebel commanders who were holding 30 civilians captive in the north of the war-torn country.

The commanders, who were leading a unit loyal to former President Charles Taylor, were detained in the Gbapa area of Nimba County yesterday.

The troops were sent to the area after local civilians reported that more than 30 people were being held prisoner in a 20ft container near the town of Yekepa.

The soldiers freed the 35 captives, who claimed they had been beaten and raped by the rebels.