LIBERIA: MORTAR BOMBS KILL AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE IN MONROVIA AS FIGHTING ON THE STREETS OF THE CAPITAL INTENSIFIES

Record ID: 646013

  • Title: LIBERIA: MORTAR BOMBS KILL AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE IN MONROVIA AS FIGHTING ON THE STREETS OF THE CAPITAL INTENSIFIES
  • Date: 25th July 2003
  • Summary: SV: HOSPITAL CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MAN CALLING ON THE U.S. TO INTERVENE IN LIBERIA SAYING: "We depend on America. No other country in the world do we depend on. This country was colonialised by America. We depend on America to take care of our situation. Now we are going home. Our people are dying. What can we do?" MV: EXTERIOR U.S. EMBASSY IN MONROVIA
  • Embargoed: 9th August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MONROVIA, LIBERIA
  • Country: Liberia
  • Topics: Crime,Conflict,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7EZGKQHL5HY19V7P38XC3ODHK
  • Story Text: Mortar bombs killed at least 12 people in Liberia's capital Monrovia on Friday as fighting on the streets intensified Mortar shells pounded Liberia's capital Monrovia killing at least twelve people whilst street fighting in the capital continued during the afternoon.
    Mortars slammed into two schools where displaced people were sheltering on Friday (July 25). Another shell exploded five metres from a hospital run by the aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres.
    Bombs also rocked the Mamba Point diplomatic quarter, where the heavily fortified U.S. embassy is located following the evacuation of diplomatic staff.
    Shells were also fired towards the centre of the city.
    Hospitals were trying to cope with a steady flow of casualties -- some severely injured, some already dead like these three children.
    A humanitarian disaster is looming as the city's main water plant has been down for days and inaccessible because of fighting nearby, forcing people to rely on wells -- not all of which have been chlorinated.
    The mortar attack marked another deterioration in the seesaw battle between rebels and forces loyal to President Charles Taylor for control of the coastal capital Monrovia.
    West African countries inched closer to deploying peacekeepers, but failed to agree a date for troops to move onto the potholed streets of Monrovia, where the clamour for international help to end the war is growing ever louder.
    Liberians are desperate for help to separate the warring factions and feel the United States has a moral obligation to save a country founded by freed U.S. slaves.
    "We depend on America. No other country in the world do we depend on. This country was colonialised by America. We depend on America to take care of our situation. Now we are going home. Our people are dying. What can we do?" a resident said.
    But the United States are sitting on the fence. President George W. Bush had yet to decide whether to commit troops but the Pentagon is believed to be reluctant to commit soldiers.
    West African countries have agreed to deploy peacekeepers and two battalions of Nigerians are on standby, but regional leaders have set another meeting for Monday to finalise details.
    And while the diplomatic wrangle of who is going to send soldiers when ensues, the body count on the streets of the capital is mounting.
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