Liberia minister hits back over US corruption allegations

Liberia's outgoing Finance Minister Samuel Tweh has dismissed as false US allegations that he was involved in "significant" corruption.

The US put him on a sanctions list on 11 December, barring him and his immediate family from entering the country.

Two lawmakers and their families were also placed on the list.

The three men were accused of "abusing their public positions through soliciting, accepting, and offering bribes to manipulate legislative processes and public funding”, the US Treasury said.

Addressing a news conference in the capital Monrovia, Mr. Tweh said they had been "summarily accused and rendered guilty without any due process of law".

The decision to sanction them was intended to weaken the outgoing ruling party as it prepares to provide strong opposition to the incoming administration of Joseph Boakai, Mr Tweah added.

He vowed to clear his name but did not say how.

The government is due to leave office next month when opposition leader Joseph Boakai is sworn in as president.

He defeated President George Weah in elections last month and has vowed to fight corruption.