LIBERIA: U.S. FIGHTER PLANES WILL SOON PATROL LIBERIAN SKIES

Record ID: 376188

  • Title: LIBERIA: U.S. FIGHTER PLANES WILL SOON PATROL LIBERIAN SKIES
  • Date: 15th August 2003
  • Summary: (EU) MONROVIA, LIBERIA (AUGUST 13, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV CAR ARRIVING WITH U.S. AMBASSADOR TO LIBERIA JOHN BLANEY; MV BLANEY GETS OUT OF CAR AND SHAKES HANDS WITH OFFICIALS, SAYS HELLO TO MEDIA (2 SHOTS) 0.20 2. MV BLANEY MEETING AND SHAKING HANDS WITH LIBERIAN PRESIDENT MOSES BLAH; MV MEETING BETWEEN BLANEY AND BLAH; MV BLAH AND BLANEY STANDING O
  • Embargoed: 30th August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MONROVIA, LIBERIA
  • Country: Liberia
  • Reuters ID: LVACI2TFBPLMTKZY67SMMUZ98XIO
  • Story Text: U.S. fighter planes will soon patrol Liberia's skies
    Liberia's new President Moses Blah said after
    meeting the United States (U.S.) ambassador Wednesday
    (August 13) that American fighter planes would soon start
    patrolling to help assure peace in the war-ruined country.

    "Within a few hours time you will see the American
    jets, fighter planes, patrolling the skies of Liberia, to
    bring peace to this country, to make sure that they are
    here to bring peace to us," Blah told reporters after his
    meeting with Blaney.

    "The United States is here for peace and we are working
    with the president and all other parties to try and
    stabilise the situation. And as you can see, we are now
    present. You can our ships," Blaney added.

    Three U.S. warships are waiting off the capital
    Monrovia with a 2,300-strong Marine task force to help West
    African peacekeepers after the flight into exile Monday
    (August 11) of ex-President Charles Taylor.

    But so far the only prospect of U.S. troops on the
    ground is for small groups of Marines, maybe five or
    six-strong, to help with humanitarian aid.

    Washington is wary of deep involvement, given its
    of a bloody debacle in Somalia a decade ago, the last
    major U.S. military involvement in Africa.

    Rebels of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and
    Democracy (LURD) promised the Americans on Tuesday (August
    12) that they would leave the vital port so aid could flow
    to hundreds of thousands of famished Liberians.

    From there, the rebels are to pull back to a river 12
    km (eight miles) beyond the outskirts.


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