News In Brief

August 24, 1984

Liberian troops called in to quell student protests

Chief of State Samuel K. Doe called in troops to disperse 2,000 protesting students after he closed the University of Liberia and dismissed the staff. Witnesses say soldiers fired directly at a group of students, wounding at least 25.

The students had been boycotting classes since the arrests Sunday of four leading opponents of Mr. Doe's military government. Among those arrested was Dr. Amos Sawyer, dean of the university's political science department. The government accuses him of leading a plot to overthrow the government and install a socialist state.