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10 August 2009

TSX-V: MNO

AIM:     MANA

MINING LICENCE GRANTED FOR NEW LIBERTY GOLD PROJECT IN LIBERIA

Mano River Resources Inc. ('Mano' or the 'Company') the TSX Venture Exchange ('TSX-V') and AIM listed exploration to production company focused on gold, iron ore and diamonds in West Africa is pleased to announce it has been granted by the Government of Liberia its Class 'A' Mining licence within the Bea Mineral Development Agreement ('MDA').

Highlights

• Class 'A' 25 year Mining Licence granted on 29 July 2009

• Bankable Feasibility Study for underground mine planned for completion by the end of 2010

• Up to 10,000m drilling programme planned to assist feasibility study

• Current resource of 1.4 Moz, (NI 43-101) 13.533Mt measured and indicated at 3.18 g/t gold with further potential

Luis da Silva, President & CEO of Mano commented:

'This represents another positive step forward towards commercial production from Liberia's first ever hard rock gold mine. The support from the Government of Liberia is evident to achieving the Company's goals and we are now in a position to undertake the confirmation drilling in advance of completing a bankable feasibility study in 2010 for an underground mine targeting 100,000oz pa. We are in the process of finalising a new geological model with a firm of independent consultants, incorporating the positive drilling results received in 2008 from below 200m, including 23m grading 4.95 g/t and 26m grading 5.04 g/t. In addition the Company will also be looking to further grow the resource base on the Bea MDA through advancing exploration of the satellite gold deposits at Weaju and the Silver Hills and Gondoja prospects, which lie in close proximity to the New Liberty Gold Project..'

Mineral Title

The Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy of The Republic of Liberia has, after a detailed review, granted the Class 'A' Licence whereby, having satisfied all necessary exploration requirements under the Law, the Company is entitled to mine in the production area it has selected within the Bea MDA. This production area reduces the ground holding from 1,000km2 to 457 km2. The 25 year renewable mining licence became effective on 29 July 2009 and is held through the Company's 100% owned subsidiary incorporated in Liberia, the Bea Mountain Mining Corporation. 

Confirmation Drilling

Following the review of the geological data by AMC Consultants (UK) Limited ('AMC') in the second half of 2008 whereby the recommendation was for an underground mining method at the New Liberty gold deposit. AMC was then mandated in July 2009 to incorporate the new drilling data from 2008's deeper drilling campaign. The 2008 drilling (holes K115-K130) produced some of the best intersections achieved to date at the New Liberty gold deposit, as illustrated in Table 1, below.

Table-1:  Ranking of Top 20 Intersections at New Liberty gold deposit

Top 20 Intersections
Ranking	Hole ID	From (m)	To (m)	Length (m)	Au (Mean g/t)
1	K63	55	92	37	8.45
2	K10	32	82	50	4.30
3	K13	20	46	26	6.20
4	K2	24	40	16	8.81
5	K126	144	170	26	5.04
6	K96	43	62	19	6.76
7	K116	210	245	35	3.59
8	K70	48	100	52	2.23
9	K115	205	228	23	4.95
10	K3	36	62	26	4.10
11	K24	56	78	22	4.80
12	K47	54	86	32	3.29
13	K49	47	57	10	10.08
14	K52	47	61	14	6.97
15	K14	26	34	8	12.10
16	K95	10	24	14	6.92
17	K69	60	74	14	6.63
18	K98	41	79	38	2.40
19	K129	223	255	32	2.66
20	K20	56.09	77	20.91	3.90

The modelling by AMC will enable the Company to optimally target its next phase of confirmation drilling. This will consist initially of diamond drill holes totalling between 8,500m and 10,000m to depths of 300m below surface, to enable further modelling of the deposit. The Company will also consider drilling additional holes to -500m towards the end of the drilling campaign. The model will be 'live', whereby new drilling data will be actively inserted into the 'wireframe' to adapt the ongoing drilling as necessary. Completion of this drilling is expected by the end of 2009.

ENDS

Qualified Person

Mano's Qualified Person responsible for preparing this release is its former Director and CEO, Dr Tom Elder, who holds a BSc and Doctorate in Geology from the University of Durham in the UK, is a Fellow and former Member of Council of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy of the UK, and a Fellow of The Geological Society. 

Quality Control and Sample Preparation

Mano has a rigorous Quality Control Program (QCP) inserting a minimum 5% of standards, blanks and duplicates into the sample stream. The Company employs independently owned and managed OMAC Laboratories for all its assay requirements, including the preparation of pulps to 90% -100 micron at their in-country preparation facilities in Liberia, followed by XRF at their main laboratory in Loughrea, Ireland. 

OMAC is accredited to ISO 17025 by INAB (Irish National Accreditation Board) which is a member of ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation), and is a signatory to the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement. OMAC operates an internal QA/QC check assay programme using in-house standards, reagent blanks and duplicates.

For further information on Mano River Resources and its exploration programme, you are invited to visit the Company's website at www.manoriver.com or contact one of the following:

Mano River Resources Inc.

Luis da Silva, CEO                                                      Tel:  +44 (0) 20 7299 4212

Evolution Securities Limited 

Simon Edwards / Chris Sim / Neil Elliot                Tel:  +44 (0) 20 7071 4300

Pelham Public Relations

Charles Vivian / James MacFarlane                     Tel:  +44 (0) 20 7337 1500

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOTES TO EDITORS 

Drilling programme of 2008

During the first half of 2008, the Company drilled deeper holes in order to ascertain with confidence the continuity of the ore body at depth. This drilling consisted of 15 additional holes (identified as K115-K130) totalling 4,485m in an effort to intersect the structure at approximately -200m and -550m, below surface. One hole, number 123, was abandoned. Three of the Top 10 intersections and four of the top 20 intersections resulted from this campaign.

Table-2:  Full Results of the 2008 Deep Drilling Campaign - drill collars & mineralization intervals

Hole ID	Easting	Northing	Depth		From (m)	To (m)	Length (m)	Au (Mean g/t)
K115	10775	9580	266		205	228	23	4.95
K115				Including	212	224	12	9.12
K116	10725	9600	256		210	245	35	3.59
K116				Including	218	235	17	7.03
K117	10825	9600	251		201	211	10	0.30
K117				Including	204	208	4	0.54
K118	10750	9360	605		557	581	24	0.36
K118				Including	565	568	3	1.62
K119	10875	9605	247		169	173	4	0.49
K119				and	227	231	4	0.28
K120	10796	9360	564		506	525	19	1.18
K120				Including	517	520	3	6.21
K121	10675	9603	258		173	200	27	0.67
K121				Including	184	194	10	1.45
K122	10925	9605	241		156	161	5	0.43
K124	11498	9551	250		148	181	33	1.40
K124				Including	172	180	8	4.85
K124				and	191	200	9	1.45
K125	11558	9550	250		139	145	6	0.24
				Including	155	158	3	0.83
K126	11618	9550	250		144	170	26	5.04
				Including	158	170	12	10.39
				and	187	193	6	0.69
				and	201	207	6	1.33
				and	204	206	2	3.72
K127	11675	9550	250		136	150	14	2.58
				Including	137	148	11	3.18
				and	173	202	29	0.41
				and	190	197	7	1.01
K128	12260	9390	256		162	163	1	0.87
				Including	174	176	2	0.21
				and	179	180	1	0.49
K129	12122	9400	255		162	164	2	0.25
				and	172	173	1	0.26
				and	197	203	6	1.44
				Including	223	255	32	2.66
				and	226	245	19	4.37
K130	11934	9450	255		211	253	42	0.33
				Including	231	237	6	1.06
				and	250	253	3	0.99

ENDMSCEAAPNEDENEAE