Forum Newspaper allowed to reopen its offices

Monrovia court officials finally ordered that the offices of the independent weekly Forum Newspaper could reopen on 15 March despite managing editor Augustus Fallah's refusal to pay a supplementary fine of 500 Liberian dollars (10 US dollars). Fallah refused on the grounds that, in his view, the court officials were just solliciting a "bribe." The reopening had originally been due to take place on 11 March, after the newspaper paid a fine of 200 US dollars. But the court then delayed it while trying to get Fallah to pay the additional sum. The newspaper reappeared in news stands on 16 March.