LIBERIA: AFRICAN LEADERS ARRIVE IN MONROVIA FOR BELEAGUERED PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR'S HANDOVER CEREMONY

Record ID: 473240

  • Title: LIBERIA: AFRICAN LEADERS ARRIVE IN MONROVIA FOR BELEAGUERED PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR'S HANDOVER CEREMONY
  • Date: 11th August 2003
  • Summary: (W5) LIBERIA, MONROVIA (AUGUST 11, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI'S PLANE ARRIVING AT AIRPORT 0.13 2. SV ARMED SOLDIER ON TARMAC 0.16 3. SLV/SV OF MBEKI AND ENTOURAGE WALKING ON TARMAC (3 SHOTS) 0.35 4. SV NIGERIAN PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO DISEMBARKING PLANE 0.53 5. SV OBASANJO AND ENTOURAGE WALKING ON TARMAC 0.57 6. SLV CONVOY OF VEHICLES ARRIVING AT SITE OF CEREMONY WHERE LIBERIAN PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR IS EXPECTED TO HANDOVER POWER 1.11 7. SLV THABO MBEKI SHAKING HANDS WITH TAYLOR AND OTHER AFRICAN LEADERS STANDING BESIDE TAYLOR 1.20 8. SV BAND PLAYING 1.25 9. MCU SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI (LEFT) WITH PRESIDENT OF MOZAMBIQUE JOAQUIM CHISSANO 1.28 10. SLV OF LEADERS STANDING TOGETHER (LEFT TO RIGHT) MBEKI, CHISSANO, KUFUOR, TAYLOR AND NIGERIAN PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO / PAN ACROSS LEADERS (2 SHOTS) 1.45 11. MCU CHARLES TAYLOR 1.51 12. LV OF LEADERS STANDING TOGETHER 1.54 13. SV LIBERIAN VICE-PRESIDENT MOSES BLAH SHAKING HANDS INSIDE CEREMONY SITE AHEAD OF ARRIVALS 1.59 14. SLV/LV CONVOY OF WHITE VANS ARRIVING AT PORT (2 SHOTS) 2.14 15. LV AMERICAN MILITARY ATTACHE AT PORT TO TRY AND GET AGREEMENT FOR WHEN AND HOW PORT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE FOR AID 2.23 16. MCU (English) SUE ANNE SONDSKY, AMERICAN MILITARY ATTACHE, SAYING "We are just here continuing the process that we've been working on for several days." 2.36 17. SV OF PATROLS AT PORT 2.40 18. MCU (English) CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER FOR NIGERIAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE, SAYING "Nobody will say no, I think the yes has already been given. Very optimistic." 2.48 19. SLV OF PATROLS AT PORT 2.56 20. MCU SUE ANNE SONDSKY TALKING TO PATROLS 3.01 21. MCU (English) UNIDENTIFIED REBEL COMMANDER SAYING "No problem to leave." 3.14 22. LV PATROLS AT PORT 3.25 23. SV LIBERIAN PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR ARRIVING AT HANDOVER CEREMONY WITH "SPECIAL GUESTS" INCLUDING OTHER AFRICAN LEADERS 3.43 24. SV TAYLOR STANDING WEARING WHITE SUIT WITH GREEN SASH / TAYLOR TAKING SEAT 3.58 25. MCU/SV AFRICAN LEADERS SEATED/READING PROGRAMME (3 SHOTS) 4.25 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 26th August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MONROVIA, LIBERIA
  • City:
  • Country: Liberia
  • Topics:
  • Reuters ID: LVAB6KSJU2R8U8UMT8J25DYA1QNA
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: African leaders arrive in Monrovia for beleaguered
    President Charles Taylor's handover ceremony.



    Liberia's President Charles Taylor prepared to step
    down reluctantly on Monday (August 11) under pressure from
    the United States to end slaughter that has gripped Liberia
    and West Africa for nearly 14 years.

    After ceding power, Taylor is expected to leave the
    broken shell of a nation founded by freed American slaves
    in the 19th century. At least 2,000 people perished in the
    most recent fighting with rebels for the capital Monrovia.

    The former warlord is due to hand over power to
    Vice-President Moses Blah, a former brother-in-arms from
    the Liberian leader's days of bush war and in Libya's
    guerrilla training camps.

    The handover did not happen as planned at 11.59 a.m.

    (same GMT), but there was no suggestion it was more than
    just a delay.

    President Thabo Mbeki of continental power South Africa
    arrived for the ceremony. Also in Liberia were the leaders
    of Mozambique and Ghana -- representing the African Union
    and West Africa's regional bloc.

    Boxed into a corner by rebels, under U.N. sanctions,
    wanted by Sierra Leone's war crimes court and told to quit
    by U.S. President George W. Bush, Taylor had little choice
    but to go or fight to the death.

    Diplomatic sources said Taylor would most likely leave
    with Mbeki for Nigeria, which has offered him asylum.

    Security sources said he shipped four vehicles out of the
    country on Sunday aboard planes bound for Nigeria.

    No one knows what will happen when and if Taylor leaves
    the divided, hungry capital where rebels and loyalist
    militias are dug in opposite each other, observing a
    tenuous ceasefire under the watchful eyes of nearly 800
    West African peacekeepers.

    But gunfire rang out near central Monrovia as loyalist
    militias smashed into shops for some last-minute looting.

    Nigerian troops guarded the Executive Mansion for the
    ceremony amid plush velvet and gilded chairs.

    Rebels grudgingly accept that they have no choice over
    Blah, but want a neutral interim government as soon as
    possible. Regional officials want to get warring factions
    and political parties to sign a peace deal in Ghana this
    week.

    Taylor invaded Liberia in 1989 to overthrow dictator
    Samuel Doe. Seven years of civil war followed, and 200,000
    people were killed. Taylor emerged as the strongest of a
    ruthless field of warlords and was elected in 1997.

    Nigerian peacekeepers have moved into Monrovia, but
    have yet to deploy in the rebel-held port. The rebel
    Liberians United for Democracy and Reconciliation (LURD)
    have said they will withdraw only after Taylor leaves.

    The U.S. ambassador was expected to hold an important
    meeting with rebels on Monday (August 11) after Taylor has
    stepped aside, and government officials said peacekeepers
    might secure the key bridges leading into LURD territory.

    Taylor urged the United States to help Liberians. A
    handful of U.S. Marines are in Monrovia and about 2,300 in
    warships offshore, but no decision has been taken yet on
    whether to deploy them.


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