12 Arrested in Foiled Coup, Liberia Reports

MONROVIA, Liberia —  The government said Tuesday that 12 men--including an opposition party leader--have been arrested in a plot to overthrow the Liberian government of President Samuel K. Doe.

Among those arrested in the plot, which was uncovered March 16, were Gabriel Kpolleh, leader of the opposition Liberia Unification Party, Information Minister Emmanuel Bowier said. Four of those arrested were soldiers. Seven coup plotters were still at large, including an army captain and two sergeants.

Doe has been the target of several assassination and coup attempts. An abortive Nov. 12, 1985, coup attempt, which came after elections that opposition leaders said were rigged, left more than 600 people dead.