Liberia's Capital Under Attack

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2003-06-24 10:45pm

Liberia's Capital Under Attack

By Alphonso Toweh

MONROVIA (Reuters) - Fighting swept toward Liberia's capital on Tuesday, scattering thousands in panic and dealing another blow to last week's cease-fire and hopes of a negotiated end to West Africa's deadliest war.

Aid workers and military sources said rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) clashed with President Charles Taylor's forces around the Po River bridge, 12 km (eight miles) from the edge of the coastal city of Monrovia.

Thousands of people fled toward the city center from northern suburbs, where at least 300 people were killed before the rebels were driven out and the truce was signed in Ghana.

Both sides have accused each other of repeated truce violations while negotiations have stalled over very different interpretations of a deal that was meant to reach a complete peace agreement within 30 days.

LURD said in a statement its fighters had launched what it called a "coherent defensive" action to return to pre-cease-fire positions. Rebel leader Damate Conneh told British Broadcasting Radio that could mean moving back into Monrovia.

Hopes had been high for Liberia's cease-fire, but expectations were more limited among a terrified people well aware that more than a dozen deals were signed and broken during civil war that left 200,000 dead in the 1990s.

TERROR IN TOWN

Founded by freed American slaves in the 19th century, Liberia has known little but killing and chaos for the past 14 years. Its war has sent savage offshoots into neighboring Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast.

"I heard that the rebels are very well-equipped and my fear now is that they could enter Monrovia again," said Emmanuel Kanneh, rushing to the bank to get out his savings.

Two rebel factions controlling 60 percent of the country are determined to get rid of Taylor, a former warlord who won 1997 elections and has been indicted by a U.N.-backed court for war crimes in Sierra Leone.

Under last week's cease-fire deal, the rebels, Taylor's people and opposition politicians were to come up with an overall agreement and discuss forming a transition government without the president.

The rebels say that means he must step down soon, but Taylor has said he will not leave before the end of his elected mandate in January and will contest future elections if he wants to.

The rebels include many of Taylor's enemies from the earlier war, a vicious struggle that exacerbated tribal divisions.

West African mediators have warned that the talks hang by a thread. Regional cease-fire monitors were due to arrive in Liberia last weekend, but they are still waiting for the factions to tell them exactly where frontline positions are.

Post by **RogueIce** » 2003-06-24 11:08pm

Whoa, war in Liberia?

I need to pay more attention.

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2003-06-24 11:36pm

Yeah, for along time. France was fighting insurgents and incaders of the Liberian Government's Army for this year and past. They madean effective defense of the former colony and it was safe for French and American civilians to flee. Back in Liberia the government appears that it will crumble once the capital is gone as they occupy only 40% of the nation. After this fall I assume the two Rebel factions will duke it out over scraps of Liberia.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-06-25 12:08am

The entire Liberian conflict sounds like it was thought up by some games developer writing a mission pack for that old mercenary pilot Strike Commander game or something. I just can't take the place seriously.

The Liberian 'Conflict'

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2003-06-25 12:26am

We'd better help them out! That city is named after one of our Founding Fathers, you know.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-06-25 12:31am

CaptainChewbacca wrote:We'd better help them out! That city is named after one of our Founding Fathers, you know.

'Monrovia' ... why didn't they just call it Monroe?

The US is decidedly uninterested in lifting a finger. Other African nations have been the ones doing most of it. The country's a basket case.

LordShaithis · Post by **LordShaithis** » 2003-06-25 01:19am

Nothing a few nukes wouldn't fix.

Seggybop · Post by **Seggybop** » 2003-06-25 02:58am

It's strange that they beg Americans to help them out here, and no one is sent, but in other places they scream at us to go away but we come in anyway. Not saying anything bad about this. Only commenting on the strangeness.

Tosho · Post by **Tosho** » 2003-06-25 05:15am

IMHO Liberia would be better off if it rejoined the U.S.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-06-25 06:32am

America must aid this nation, one of the last non metric bastions of sanity upon the Earth.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-06-25 06:34am

Tosho wrote:IMHO Liberia would be better off if it rejoined the U.S.

Liberia was never part of the United States

Tosho · Post by **Tosho** » 2003-06-25 08:49am

Sea Skimmer wrote:
Tosho wrote:IMHO Liberia would be better off if it rejoined the U.S.
Liberia was never part of the United States

I meant they should join the U.S. I accidently added the "re".

Rubberanvil · Post by **Rubberanvil** » 2003-06-25 05:11pm

Tosho wrote:I meant they should join the U.S. I accidently added the "re".

You'll sooner see the North-Western half of Canada joining the U.S. long before Liberia ever does.

Lonestar · Post by **Lonestar** » 2003-06-25 06:36pm

Tosho wrote:
I meant they should join the U.S. I accidently added the "re".

mmm....no.