ABIDJAN, 19 September (IRIN) - Liberian authorities released popular talk show host Max Jlateh on Tuesday,
one day after he was detained for allowing callers to express sentiments
perceived by the state as "anti-American", a diplomatic source confirmed to IRIN.

His station, DC 101, went off the air on Monday when police went there and arrested him. The source told IRIN on Wednesday that the talk show was now back on the air and that no charges were laid against Jlateh. "Public
reaction to his release has been extremely favourable and this morning's
show was devoted to an assessment of the show's value since its inception,"
the source said.

The Liberian government had justified its actions by saying that the
sentiments aired were not in line with the country's national security
interests and gave the impression that Liberia was not in sympathy with the
US following the 11 September terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.