Conte's regime denies backing LURD, and Conneh denies his wife is Conte's medium. The Guinea leader and Keita-Conneh are only "very, very, very close," her husband said recently.
Under Liberia's Aug. 18 interim power-sharing deal, Conneh and other leaders on all sides in the war are prohibited from holding high office.
In recent weeks especially, Conneh has openly chafed at the restriction, complaining of having no job and accusing the current power-sharing government of bad faith.
The peace process has not run smoothly under Conneh's LURD. LURD was the last of Liberia's three armed factions -- two rebel movements and Taylor's former government -- to allow deployment of UN forces in a stronghold town.
Non-compliance from LURD also contributed to the breakdown of UN-sponsored disarmament nationwide, due to resume in stages this week.
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