World IN BRIEF : IVORY COAST : Liberian Refugees Forced Back to Sea

Ivory Coast officials, fearing a new wave of refugees, forced thousands of tired and hungry Liberians back to open waters despite concerns that their leaky ship is not seaworthy, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said. “We are very worried about the 4,000 Liberians on the boat,” agency spokeswoman Christiane Berthiaume said. “The conditions on the boat are appalling. The boat is damaged.” Berthiaume said authorities also forced most of the women and children who had been taken from the ship for medical care and food to get back on.