An eleven-member US congressional delegation,  yesterday met with the Liberian leader Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at the Executive Mansion at which time the delegation conferred with her on several bilateral issues and how the US government can continue its support to the reconstruction process of the country.

Speaking during the meeting, the head of the delegation, Representative Nancy Pelosi, who is also the leader of the Democrats in the 108th congress, expressed the hope that Liberia can be a model to the continent and the world and that the success story will be a great beginning not just for Liberia but for other countries.

Representative Pelosi said they were in the country to assist with the electricity situation by helping to turn on the light.

She added that they were in the country to hear from President Sirleaf directly what her priorities for the nation are.

She said the delegation was pleased over the level of optimism and commitment shown by the Liberian leader and said the visit is very special to them to hear from President Sirleaf.

She congratulated the Liberian leader on her election and inauguration as the first democratic leader in Liberia and Africa as a whole.

Also speaking, Representative James E. Clyburn, assured the Liberian leader that they will do all they can in making sure that she is successful in her endeavors.

Speaking earlier, Liberian leader Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, described the visit of the US delegation as a very strong signal of the US government's continuous support to Liberia and acknowledged the role played by the United States in encouraging other international partners to mobilize financial support for Liberia at the donor conference held in February 2004 in New York during the transitional period.

President Sirleaf said as a result of the true suppor t provided the nation by the United States government especially during the transitional period, the transitional period was successful resulting to the maintenance of peace and the holding of a free and fair democratic elections last year.

The Liberian leader said, as a result of the US government's assistance, today the nation has embarked upon a process that would lead to a true national renewal.

President Sirleaf told the delegation that the current peace existing in the country is fragile, stressing that with the support of the United States government, the army, police and other auxiliaries of the security sectors are being restructured so that they may take over the security of the state.

She pointed out that while the restructuring process is on-going, it would take some time for the security forces to reach to the level of efficiency for the security to safeguard the state.

President Sirleaf expressed the hope that her government will get the support of the US government for the UN peace keepers to stay in the country for a longer time until the nation's security is restructured and professionalized to take over security.

The Liberian leader told the delegation that as a result of the war, th e country's infrastructure were damaged stressing that as a result of this, there has been no electricity in the country for almost two decades.

She told the delegation of the need to rehabilitate ex-combatants and create the condition for them to get the training needed so that they can become productive citizens in society.

She added that the nation still needs the support of the United States government not only in having the security sector restructured, but meeting the other security needs of the nation.

President Sirleaf who said she sees the nation as a potential of the African success stories, urged the US government to consider Liberia as a nation with the US government's support, expressing the hope that if this is done, the whole nation will be turned around.

Members of the delegation which has already departed the country were, Nancy Pelosi (Democrat), George Miller (Democrat), Donald M.

Payne( Democrat) Maxine Waters (Democrat), James E. Clyburn (Democrat) Melvin Watt (Democrat), Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (Democrat) and Barbara Lee (Democrat).

Others are Micheal E. Capuano (Democrat) Jan Schakowsky(Democrat) and Joe Wilson (Republican).