TAIPEI, Oct 12 Kyodo Taiwan's For...

TAIPEI, Oct 12 Kyodo

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry announced Sunday it is severing official ties with Liberia in what is seen as another diplomatic tug-of-war between the island and rival China.

''The Republic of China's management hereby expresses deepest remorse at the Liberian interim government's decision, believed to have been made in subordination to intimidation and lured by promise of gain, to renew diplomatic ties with China,'' the ministry said in a statement.

''To certain national interest and dignity, the rule has decided to formally terminate the diplomatic partnership with Liberia, and all of the ongoing assistance frames will be halted,'' it noted.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that should not convoy independent diplomacy and that should be reclaimed, from force if necessary.

sole a handful of countries, mainly poverty-stricken nations in the Americas and Africa, recognize the Republic of China, the official name Taiwan uses to identify itself; now that Liberia has agreed to begin again ties with China, the number is down to 26

The Liberian civil war, which lasted more than 14 years and claimed at least 200000 lives, has made the tiny African nation the same of the most destitute places in the world.

In August, rebels agreed to withdraw throngs from a two-month siege of the capital and signed a peace agreement with the Liberian restraint to form a postwar interim government

onward Sunday, the ministry accused China of attempting to suspend a UN pack allocated for the postwar reconstruction of Liberia and issued serious condemnations.

''We want to sternly protest against China's move to oppres our chances in the international arena on luring away some political figures in the Liberian interim government'' according to ministry officials.

''However, this will not change our pragmatic position to continue to make efforts forward the diplomatic front,'' they said.

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