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		By Keith Somerville BBC correspondent in G31cb

The tribunal investigating war crimes in Sierra Leone has asked to see the body of wanted warlord Sam Bockarie, suggesting some doubt over claims of his death.

Confusion over whether Bockarie has been shot dead

The Liberian Government says Mr Bockarie - a former hairdresser, diamond-miner and disco dance champion - was shot dead by its troops on Tuesday while trying to cross into Liberia from Ivory Coast.

But Mr Bockarie "has been in Liberia since 27 April. So how can he enter Liberia if he is already there?" the tribunal's chief investigator, Alan White, was quoted by AP news agency as saying.

On Wednesday, Liberia hit out angrily at the UN after the Security Council voted unanimously to extend sanctions that aim to punish Liberia for its alleged destabilisation of neighbouring countries.

Other countries in the region are doing much worse than us

Reginald Goodridge, Liberian Information minister

The Council also agreed to ban imports of Liberian timber products in July unless Liberia shows it is acting to quell violence in the region.

Bockarie mystery

A body said to be Mr Bockarie's is on display in the Liberian capital Monrovia, but the court has asked that it be turned over for tests and formal identification.

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A body said to be Bockarie's is on display in Monrovia

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Mr Bockarie, 40, was a senior commander of the rebel Revolutionary United Front during Sierra Leone's bloody 10-year civil war, and was indicted by the court for his involvement in brutal crimes against civilians, including cutting off limbs.

At least 30,000 people were killed and thousands mutilated in the conflict which ended in 2002, with the help of the UK, the former colonial power, and a United Nations peacekeeping mission.

Mr Bockarie was thought to be hiding in Liberia and last week the court warned Liberian President Charles Taylor he could himself be indicted unless he handed Mr Bockarie over.

Mr Taylor however denied allegations that the rebel leader - nicknamed the Mosquito - was in the country.

A body said to be Bockarie's is on display in Monrovia

On Tuesday the Liberian Information Ministry said Mr Bockarie had been killed after an attempt to arrest him as he crossed into Liberia from Ivory Coast met "stiff resistance".

"There were serious casualties on both sides," said a statement.

Mr Bockarie was recently reported to be leading a group of fighters helping rebels in Ivory Coast.

The Sierra Leonean international court says a second alleged war criminal, former junta leader Johnny Paul Koroma, is also hiding in Liberia.

UN's 'wicked act'

Liberia has long stood accused of arming and funding Sierra Leonean rebels in return for the "blood diamonds" mined by them.

BOCKARIE'S CAREER

All's well that end's well

A Teacher

On Tuesday the UN Security Council renewed sanctions against the country including the continuation of an arms embargo, prohibition on imports of Liberian diamonds and a travel ban on Liberian officials.

It also placed an additional ban on Liberia's lucrative logs and timber products, but delayed implementation of the ban for two months as an incentive for Mr Taylor's government to co-operate.

Liberia's information minister said the unanimous vote was "a wicked act" based on double standards.

"Other countries in this region are doing much worse than us," Reginald Goodridge told the BBC's correspondent in Sierra Leone, Paul Welsh.

But the campaigning organisation Global Witness welcomed the impending ban on the timber trade.

It says it has proof that the trade finances arms for government and external rebels, and that timber transport routes are also used to distribute weapons.