The United States said on Tuesday that Nigeria must make sure that Liberian war crimes suspect Charles Taylor is handed over to an international court.

"It is the responsibility of the Nigerian government to see that he (Taylor) is conveyed to the special court for Sierra Leone, " White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

McClellan made the remarks on the eve of a visit by Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo and after Taylor was reported to have gone missing in Nigeria.

"Right now we're looking for answers from the Nigerian government about the whereabouts of Charles Taylor," McClellan said.

Former Liberian leader Charles Taylor, wanted for war crimes by a UN-backed court in Sierra Leone, has "disappeared" from his residence in Nigeria which terminated his asylum three days ago, the Nigerian government said on Tuesday.

U.S. President George W. Bush is due to meet Obasanjo at the White House on Wednesday.

Source: Xinhua