LIBERIA: U.S. PEACE ENVOY JESSE JACKSON ARRIVES IN MONROVIA ON SECOND LEG OF DIPLOMACY MISSION TO SECURE RELEASE OF MORE THAN 300 U.N. PEACEKEEPERS HELD BY REBELS IN SIERRA LEONA

Record ID: 350062

  • Title: LIBERIA: U.S. PEACE ENVOY JESSE JACKSON ARRIVES IN MONROVIA ON SECOND LEG OF DIPLOMACY MISSION TO SECURE RELEASE OF MORE THAN 300 U.N. PEACEKEEPERS HELD BY REBELS IN SIERRA LEONA
  • Date: 19th May 2000
  • Summary: MONROVIA, LIBERIA (MAY 19, 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV/MV: JESSE JACKSON'S PLANE LANDING AT ROBERTS AIRPORT (2 SHOTS) 0.10 2. WIDE OF PLANE ON RUNWAY 0.14 3. MV: JACKSON WITH US EMBASSY STAFF 0.21 4. PAN: JACKSON ARRIVING AT LIBERIAN PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR'S OFFICIAL RESIDENCE 0.26 5. SV: JACKSON GETTING OUT OF CAR 0
  • Embargoed: 3rd June 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MONROVIA, LIBERIA
  • Country: Liberia
  • Reuters ID: LVAD80V8TO9B1MGP0PXUH1GAXQYL
  • Story Text: United States peace envoy Jesse Jackson has arrived in
    Liberia on the second leg of a shuttle diplomacy mission to
    secure the release of more than 300 U.N.peace-keepers held
    hostage by Sierra Leonian rebels.

    Arriving in the Liberian capital, Monrovia on Friday
    (May 19), Jesse Jackson once again called for the release of
    the remaining U.N.peace-keeping soldiers held by the Sierra
    Leonian Revolutionary United Front (RUF).

    His primary purpose - talks with the Liberian president,
    Charles Taylor who has been at the heart of negotiations with
    the rebels to secure the release of the hostages.Taylor has
    long been a close ally of the RUF.

    Jackson, on the second leg of a regional peace shuttle, also
    discussed the renewed fighting in the West African state that
    has seen an end to the peace accord signed by all parties last
    year.

    The RUF originally snatched about 500 U.N.personnel,
    mostly Zambians but also dozens of Kenyans and other
    nationalities.

    On Friday, the rebels paid no heed to Jackson's call and
    to a separate appeal by the United Nations to show mercy to as
    many as 40 injured hostages.

    After his talks with Taylor, Jackson warned the rebels not
    to link the fate of the hostages with that of their leader
    Foday Sankoh, who was arrested in Freetown on Wednesday and is
    in government custody.

    It was a sentiment echoed by Taylor who said he agreed
    there should be no connection between the two issues.Nor with
    any "other shortcomings of the (peace) agreement," he added.

    The Liberian leader also insisted that once the hostages
    were released, all warring parties in Sierra Leone should end
    hostilities."Disarmament should occur by all parties - the
    RUF, the Sierra Leonian army and the Kamajors," he said.

    Taylor and his Liberian mediating team said negotiations
    with the RUF were also hampered by heavy rains around Foya, a
    three-day trek by road and tracks and by a lack of
    helicopters.

    Jackson's visit coincided with the arrival in Monrovia of
    a 26-member delegation from the Kenyan government to support
    the negotiations with the rebels.


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