LIBERIA: PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR HOLDS MEETING WITH WEST AFRICAN ENVOYS AS GOVERNMENT FORCES TAKE THREE KEY BRIDGES AND PUSH BACK REBELS

Record ID: 645988

  • Title: LIBERIA: PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR HOLDS MEETING WITH WEST AFRICAN ENVOYS AS GOVERNMENT FORCES TAKE THREE KEY BRIDGES AND PUSH BACK REBELS
  • Date: 3rd August 2003
  • Summary: (W5) MONROVIA, LIBERIA (AUGUST 2, 2003) (REUTERS) SLV PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR'S CONVOY ON STREETS OF MONROVIA MV TAYLOR GOING INTO THE EXECUTIVE MANSION WHERE HE IS GOING TO MEET THE ECOWAS MINISTERS (W5) MONROVIA, LIBERIA (AUGUST 2, 2003) (REUTERS) (QUALITY AS INCOMING) MV INTERIOR VIEWS OF MEETING (5 SHOTS) (W5) MONROVIA, LIBERIA (AUGUST 2, 2003) (REUTERS) SLV GHANAIAN SOLDIERS IN FRONT OF ROYAL HOTEL (WHERE ECOWAS (ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES) MINISTERS ARE STAYING) MV LIBERIAN DEFENCE MINISTER DANIEL SHEA (BLACK SUIT) LIBERIAN ASSISTANT CHIEF OF PROTOCOL MOHAMMED KENETH (MAN ON THE LEFT) TOGO DEFENCE MINISTER GENERAL ASSANI TIDJIANI (ON RIGHT IN FRONT) (THE FOURTH MAN (IN BACKGROUND) IS JOURNALIST JEFF KOINANGE OF CNN) SLV GOVERNMENT MILITIAMEN ON STREETS OF MONROVIA; SLV CIVILIANS WALKING PAST; MV YOUNG MILITIAMAN AIMING WITH KALASHNIKOV; SLV MILITIAMAN PASSING BY MAMBA POINT AREA (5 SHOTS) SLV HEAVY FIGHTING ON OLD BRIDGE OF MONROVIA
  • Embargoed: 18th August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MONROVIA, LIBERIA
  • Country: Liberia
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9B6EVEX6M8XEXUSAGG4ZWIIV7
  • Story Text: Liberian President Charles Taylor holds meeting with West African envoys as government forces take three key bridges in Monrovia, pushing back rebels.
    Embattled Liberian President Charles Taylor on Saturday (August 2) began a meeting with West African envoys in Monrovia to discuss his departure from the war-weary country after peacekeepers move in.
    Taylor was accompanied by his wife Jewel and senior aides including the defence minister, national security adviser and the vice president.
    The West African team included Ghana's foreign minister, Togo's defence minister, the Nigerian minister of integration and the executive secretary of the regional body ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West African States).
    The meeting was delayed by a day after Taylor unexpectedly quit the capital Monrovia to travel to the frontline in the southeast of the country.
    Also attending the meeting was Liberian Vice President Moses Blah, the man who could take over should Taylor carry out his pledge to leave once peacekeepers arrive.
    West African leaders want Taylor, indicted by a U.N.-backed court for war crimes, to leave three days after the first contingent of Nigerian peacekeepers deploy. They are scheduled to arrive on Monday.
    Liberian government forces stormed three key bridges in Monrovia on Saturday, opening the way for a two-pronged attack on the key port area held by rebels, a military source told Reuters.
    "Our men have taken the two bridges, both Old and New,"
    the source said. Forces loyal to President Charles Taylor also captured the Stockton Bridge, he added.
    A Reuters correspondent said heavy shelling could be heard coming from the rebel-controlled port area.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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