Obama lifts sanctions against Liberia
President Barack Obama has lifted US economic sanctions against Liberia.
The White House says the president signed an executive order Thursday removing penalties against the West African nation more than a decade ago by the previous US administration.
Obama notified congressional leaders in a letter, saying his decision was based on Liberia's strides toward democracy after emerging from civil war in 2003. He also cited the "orderly development" of Liberia's political, administrative and economic institutions.
The previous White House sanctioned Liberia after determining that the actions of former President Charles Taylor and others were a threat to US foreign policy. The penalties were meant to deprive them of funding and arms for conflicts in West Africa.
Taylor is currently serving a 50-year sentence for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
