- Title: VARIOUS: TRUCE AGREED IN LIBERIA FOLLOWING WEEK OF FIGHTING AND US EVACUATION
- Date: 12th April 1996
- Summary: MONROVIA, LIBERIA AND FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE (APRIL 12, 1996) (AGENCY POOL - ACCESS ALL) MONROVIA 1. GV HELICOPTER LANDING, SOLDIER WATCHING (3 SHOTS) 0.14 2. SLV EVACUEES WALKING TO HELICOPTER 0.26 3. LV QUEUE OF PEOPLE WAITING TO EVACUATE 0.30 4. SLV ZOOM EVACUEES BOARDING HELICOPTER 0.39 5. CU U.S. TROOP IN SUNGLASSES 0.41 6. MV'S VARIOUS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN BOARDING HELICOPTER TROOPS HELPING CHILDREN ONBOARD (2 SHOTS) 1.09 7. MV SOLDIER ON FIELD RADIO 1.13 8. LV HELICOPTER TAKING OFF 1.35 9. MV CHILDREN AND OTHER EVACUEES IN HELICOPTER (3 SHOTS) 1.46 10. LV U.S. TROOPS RUNNING TO HELICOPTER / MORE OF EVACUEES BOARDING HELICOPTER (2 SHOTS) 2.09 11. SCU UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING WE'VE LOST ALMOST EVERYTHING WE USED FOR OUR MINISTRY (ENGLISH) 2.18 12. SCU U.S. AMBASSADOR WILLIAM MILAN SPEAKING ABOUT SITUATION (ENGLISH) 2.26 FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE 13. GV HELICOPTER TAXIING ON AIRPORT RUNWAY 2.32 14. LV TROOPS USHERING EVACUEES OUT OF HELICOPTER (2 SHOTS) 2.52 15. SLV EVACUEES DISEMBARKING, WOMAN CARRYING CHILD 3.15 16. MV U.S. TROOPS WITH CHILDREN 3.20 17. CU AID WORKER BRIAN JOHNSON SAYING THEY SAW ROVING MARAUDERS WITH GUNS, GUYS RIDING ON CARS OUT OF CONTROL (ENGLISH) 3.30 18. CU EVACUEES' LUGGAGE BEING UNLOADED BY U.S. TROOPS 3.35 19. LV U.S. TROOP TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT 3.40 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 27th April 1996 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MONROVIA, LIBERIA/ FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE
- City:
- Country: Liberia AFRICA Sierra Leone
- Reuters ID: LVA9DO5CKMW5NZRCOJF7J2VLLSKI
- Story Text: - INTRO: A truce has been agreed following a week of fighting in Liberia but hundreds of foreigners cantinue to evacuate the nation's capitol in a rescue mission organised by the United States.
----------------------------------------------------- Gunfire eased in Liberia's capital on Saturday (April 13) as mediators tried to enforce a ceasefire, but after a week of anarchy many foreigners continued to flee the country.
As aid agencies pulled out, shortages of food and water and sanitary problems worsened in Monrovia, most of whose million people were trapped at home by six days of fighting and looting.
United States (U.S.) ambassador William Milan said an effective ceasefire in Liberia's six-year-old civil war was crucial. He said the first priority was to get the peace process back on track.
The rubble-strewn streets were once more packed with people on Saturday as a little market activity sprang up, mostly in looted goods.
While the city began to display signs of stability, the U.S.
continued its military operation to evacuate its citizens and other foreigners.
A U.S. official in Sierra Leone, the staging post of the helicopter airlifts, said 1,500 people had been taken to safety in 49 sorties.
The West African peacekeeping force ECOMOG said senior Ghanaian envoys were trying to get the consent of militia backers of Krahn warlord General Roosevelt Johnson for the enforcement of the ceasefire.
Field commander General John Inienger told Reuters ECOMOG needed to consult Johnson loyalists before it could cordon off their base at an army barracks at the centre of fighting.
There was no objection from the main two faction leaders -- National Patriotic Front of Liberia leader Charles Taylor and ULIMO chief Alhaji Kromah.
Ghana's deputy foreign minister, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, announced the truce on Friday after talks which also involved the United Nations, aid agencies and the ECOMOG high command.
Hundreds of people are desperate to leave Monrovia, described by a fleeing aid worker as a "big jungle".
A German fishing trawler carrying about 30 hungry, exhausted refugees from the Liberian capital docked in Freetown, the first boat to arrive since fighting began a week ago.
Five U.S. ships are steaming towards West Africa to help in the evacuation, which began last Tuesday with round-the-clock helicopter sorties between Monrovia and Freetown, Sierra Leone.
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