Two highly placed Liberian government officials are said to be involved in “plans to cause instability and chaos in the country”, the interim government said in a statement recently.

Although they did not name any group, the government said “a full investigation into the matter has been launched and is already gathering evidence on suspected individuals”.

Information Minister William Allen told reporters: “This threat is real and serious and the security agencies are keeping surveillance on those unscrupulous individuals behind the plans.”

This comes after former football superstar and loser of Liberia’s first post-war elections, George Weah, claimed the presidency in a series of rabble-rousing speeches at the weekend that sparked rioting in the capital Monrovia. At least 40 people were arrested and several police were reportedly hurt in the skirmishes.

Weah’s verbal on--slaught began as soon as he disembarked from a plane, fresh from visiting presidents John Kufuor of Ghana and Thabo Mbeki, who have been urging him to concede defeat gracefully.

“I am president of this country, whether you like it or not, it will not change. I told President Mbeki this. I repeat that I was cheated in the elections,” Weah told reporters on Sunday afternoon.

Weah lost to Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in the second round presidential run-off but has refused to accept defeat, claiming rigging and fraud in the United Nations-organised poll.

On Sunday evening, Weah told hundreds of supporters gathered at his party headquarters -- the Congress for Democratic Change -- that Sirleaf’s inauguration, scheduled for mid-January, would be blocked.