Liberian president critic 'arrested in Sierra Leone'

Liberian talk show host and outspoken critic of Liberia's President George Weah has been arrested in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, media in the region report.

Henry Costa, leader of a newly formed group of activists called the Council of Patriots, was arrested on Tuesday after fleeing neighbouring Liberia on Sunday, the private Liberian newspaper Frontpage Africa says.

He is awaiting possible extradition back to Liberia, where and his group have staged two large protests against Mr Weah, a top footballer-turned-politician, and his government over the last year - the most recent one on 6 January, demanding that missing state funds be accounted for and corrupt officials sacked.

He lives in the US but regularly returns to Liberia where he owned a popular radio, Roots FM, which was shut down by police last year.

Officials said the station was inciting violence and alleged it was operating without a licence.

Last week, Mr Costa was banned from leaving Liberia after authorities accused him of entering the country with a forged travel document that was issued last month.

He denies any wrongdoing and said he had lost his passport and applied for an emergency document that allowed him to go to Liberia in December.