- Title: LIBERIA: A MORTAR ATTACK ON A CHURCH IN MONROVIA KILLS AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE
- Date: 26th July 2003
- Summary: (U4) CHURCH, MONROVIA, LIBERIA (JULY 26, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE) 1. CU BODY OF CIVILIAN KILLED IN MORTAR ATTACK ON CHURCH WRAPPED UP ON THE GROUND 0.02 2. SV WOUNDED WOMAN BEING HELPED ALONG IN FRONT OF CHURCH WHERE MORTAR FELL (BLUE AND WHITE BUILDING BEHIND) 0.13 3. LV CHURCH WHERE MORTAR FELL 0.17 4. PAN FROM PEOPLE
- Embargoed: 10th August 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MONROVIA, LIBERIA
- Country: Liberia
- Reuters ID: LVAEZD0084BMQCL3HO3ECNJ362A9
- Story Text: At least six people have been killed and thirty injured
in a mortar attack on a church in Liberia's capital Monrovia
as the suffering continues.
A mortar crashed into a church housing refugees
near the centre of Liberia's capital Monrovia on Saturday (26
July), killing seven people. At least 30 others were seriously
wounded and were brought to the main hospital from the church.
The mortar attack came despite a ceasefire declared by the
rebels on Friday (25 July), shortly after U.S. President
George W. Bush said he had ordered U.S. troops to take up
positions off the West African country's coast. It will take
the troops, however, at least a week to arrive.
The rebels and forces loyal to President Charles Taylor
have been battling for more than a week for control of the
coastal capital as West African states discuss deploying
peacekeepers.
Fighting on Friday marked a bloody escalation in the
seesaw battle for Monrovia which started last weekend as
rebels bent on toppling Taylor launched their third assault
since June.
Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes
in Monrovia and are living in increasingly dangerous
conditions as water supplies dwindle and food is scarce.
The Masonic Temple on a hill overlooking the capital is
now packed with more than 10,000 displaced Monrovians. The
war-weary people of Monrovia say they have nothing to live on
or live for.
"It has been several years of fighting here and we are
lacking of food. No food, no water, no mercy we are dying of
starvation," said Doey Lumei who is staying at the temple.
Residents are urging foreign troops to come as quickly as
possible to stop the carnage.
But the longer the the troops wait, the longer the
suffering.
"We have nothing, we are suffering. The suffering is too
much," said 26-year-old Mema Dukumi who is staying at the
Masonic Temple together with her husband and three children.
Many Liberians believe the United States has a moral
obligation to save a country founded by freed American slaves
that has been crippled by nearly 14 years of almost non-stop
war.
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