Liberia Renews Soviet Relations

MONROVIA, Liberia — The Liberian government renewed diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union on Tuesday, nearly two years after President Samuel K. Doe ordered the Soviet Embassy closed for its alleged role in a coup attempt.

A brief announcement on the state-controlled radio said that Doe gave the go-ahead for the embassy to reopen because Liberia’s foreign policy favors relations with all “friendly countries” despite ideological differences.

The Soviet Embassy was closed and the ambassador declared persona non grata in November, 1983, on charges of promising to provide medical aid and ammunition to the coup leaders--a charge the Soviet authorities denied.