LIBERIA: U.S. MARINES HAVE FLOWN INTO MONROVIA TO HELP WEST AFRICAN PEACEKEEPRS TAKE OVER SECURITY

Record ID: 472689

  • Title: LIBERIA: U.S. MARINES HAVE FLOWN INTO MONROVIA TO HELP WEST AFRICAN PEACEKEEPRS TAKE OVER SECURITY
  • Date: 14th August 2003
  • Summary: (U3) MONROVIA, LIBERIA (AUGUST 14, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. LV OF PEOPLE IN A STREET IN A REBEL HELD AREA OF MONROVIA ACROSS THE NEW BRIDGE 0.05 2. SLV GROUP OF PEOPLE STANDING ON A STREET CORNER 0.11 3. LV PEOPLE CLEARING AWAY DEBRIS FROM A STREET ON THE REBEL SIDE 0.29 4. SLV OF PEOPLE CLEARING DEBRIS 0.33 5. LV/SV ARMED REBEL A
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MONROVIA, LIBERIA
  • City:
  • Country: Liberia
  • Topics:
  • Reuters ID: LVA4NG6TLZLYNPWWU054A9SER8FT
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: U.S. marines have flown into the Liberian capital,
    Monrovia, to help West African peacekeepers take over
    security.



    U.S. Marines landed aboard nine helicopters in
    Liberia's capital on Thursday (August 14) to help West
    African peacekeepers take over security in the hungry and
    battle-worn city.

    President Moses Blah was due to fly to Ghana for a
    meeting with officials of rebel factions to try to bring an
    end to nearly 14 years of strife now that pariah leader
    Charles Taylor has flown into exile.

    Shooting erupted early on Thursday around one of the
    key bridges where recent fighting that left 2,000 dead had
    been concentrated. Rebels called it an attack, but the
    government said it was just looters.

    Rebels also started withdrawing their ragtag young
    fighters from other bridges into the heart of the city.

    Loyalist commanders said they would also pull back from
    their side.

    "We are getting.....we are prepared to leave, (but) if
    there's any attack, we are prepared to retaliate," said
    rebel General Small Dennis.

    Rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
    (LURD) are due to withdraw from the port on Thursday and
    then pull back beyond the city limits. They will hand over
    to West African peacekeepers.

    The U.S. Marines who flew into Monrovia's airport are
    part of a 2,300-strong task force floating offshore to back
    up the peacekeepers. The Pentagon said on Wednesday (August
    13) that about 200 Marines would be deployed over the next
    few days.

    U.S. combat helicopters hovered over the city for a
    second day on Thursday.

    More Nigerian peacekeepers are also expected, so that
    those already in Monrovia can take control of the vital
    port.

    Reopening the port will allow aid workers to ship in
    badly needed humanitarian aid to relieve hundreds of
    thousands of people who have been surviving on little food
    and water since the rebels attacked again last month.

    Liberians would dearly love to have a big American
    force on the ground.

    But Washington, with heavy commitments elsewhere and
    mindful of the bloody debacle its forces suffered in
    Somalia a decade ago, is reluctant to get sucked into
    another potential African mire.

    Fresh fighting south of Monrovia has already shown that
    getting rid of Taylor, indicted by a U.N.-backed court for
    his role in a savage conflict in Sierra Leone, would not be
    a guarantee of peace. Taylor is in exile in Nigeria.




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