The United States on Wednesday praised Nigeria for capturing fugitive war crimes suspect Charles Taylor "so quickly" and urged the former Liberian leader to be brought to justice.

"We congratulate (Nigerian) President (Olusegun) Obasanjo and the Nigerian authorities who took Taylor into custody so quickly after his disappearance from his residence" in Nigeria, White House spokesman Scott McClellan told a news briefing.

"We urge the Nigerian government to work closely with the Liberian government and (Liberian) President (Ellen Johnson) Sirleaf to ensure that Taylor is delivered to justice at the special court for Sierra Leone," McClellan said.

McClellan made the remarks hours before U.S. President George W. Bush meets Obasanjo at the White House.

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, " McClellan said.

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

Source: Xinhua