- Title: LIBERIA: MONROVIA REMAINS TENSE ON FIRST DAY OF NEW LEADERSHIP
- Date: 13th August 2003
- Summary: (W3) MONROVIA, LIBERIA (AUGUST 12, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV PEOPLE STANDING BESIDE DEAD BODY IN WHEELBARROW; MV MEN DIGGING GRAVE (2 SHOTS) 0.16 2. SLV BURIAL OF GOVERNMENT MILITIAMAN SHOT BY GOVERNMENT REGULAR SOLDIERS BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO DISARM IN THE EARLY HOURS OF TUESDAY (AUGUST 12) (4 SHOTS) 0.56 3. SLV MARKET SCENES THE DAY AFTER CHARLES TAYLOR STEPPED DOWN AND FLED TO NIGERIA IN EXILE (3 SHOTS) 1.16 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED MAN AT THE MARKET, SAYING "Well, I appreciate he helped for the Liberian people. I'm also wishing for him to go so there can be peace because there are so many Liberians dying." 1.27 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN AT THE MARKET, SAYING "I thank God that he goes so that our country can be safe and our children can go back to school." 1.35 6. SLV MARKET SCENE; SLV DESERTED STREET NEAR FRONTLINE (SHOT FROM GOVERNMENT SIDE); SLV BRIDGE ON FRONTLINE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND REBEL TROOPS (6 SHOTS) 2.17 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 28th August 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MONROVIA, LIBERIA
- Country: Liberia
- Reuters ID: LVA2RKLFF57ZTV69RZK0HTH8RF2X
- Story Text: Monrovia remains tense on the first day of new leadership.
Liberia's new president offered his rebel foes an
olive branch on Tuesday (August 12) and sought U.S. help to
maintain a fragile ceasefire as the man who helped shape
the fortunes of the shattered West African nation began a
life in exile.
Moses Blah, who until Monday (August 11) was outgoing
president Charles Taylor's deputy, wasted no time in
offering the vacant vice-president's job to rebels who hold
about three-quarters of the country. He urged the United
States (U.S.) to intervene swiftly.
But the situation remained tense the morning after the
handover. Markets reopened, but the bridge sitting on the
frontline between government and rebel soldiers was closed.
There were sporadic incidents overnight. A government
militiaman who refused to hand over his weapons was shot
dead around 0300 local (0300 gmt) on Tuesday morning
(August 12) by regular government forces.
Liberia's defence minister said on Tuesday a rebel
faction had attacked government positions near the
capital's international airport just as President Charles
Taylor was stepping down on Monday (August 11).
Daniel Chea said the government was urging West African
peacekeepers to move in and stop the fighting, which he
blamed on a rebel group known as Model.
Meanwhile, U.S. warships stood off shattered Liberia on
Tuesday ready to help bring peace and get aid flowing.
The United States wants rebels to leave Monrovia's
vital port, and ideally the battered capital itself, now
former President Charles Taylor has quit the country.
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