Diplomats Say U.S. Refused to Aid Doe but U.S. Denies It

Liberian President Samuel K. Doe asked the United States to ferry him and 100 troops to his home region of Grand Gedeh, but the U.S. government has refused, diplomatic sources said today.

Doe was believed to have about 3,000 loyal troops from his Krahn tribe in the area, 300 miles northeast of the capital.

In Washington, a senior Administration official denied that Doe had made any such request. The official, insisting on anonymity, said Doe suggested to U.S. diplomats in Monrovia earlier this week that he would like to stop off in his home region but made no formal request for U.S. help in getting there.