Liberia Orders New Austerity Moves

Liberia’s military leader Friday announced tough new economic measures, contending that last week’s attempted coup set the country’ development back by several years.

President-elect Samuel K. Doe, in a radio address monitored here from his executive mansion in the Liberian capital of Monrovia, announced 25% pay cuts for government employees. He also ordered unproductive civil servants fired and those of retirement age retired immediately.

Soldiers from the rank of captain and below will be exempted, Doe said.

Units of the army rallied to Doe the morning of the Nov. 12 coup attempt, defeating the forces of former Maj. Gen. Thomas Quiwonkpa. Doe later said his bodyguards killed Quiwonkpa.

Doe appealed for financial help from the United States, which has been funding one-third of the country’s budget.