- Title: LIBERIA: SITUATION REMAINS TENSE IN SECOND PORT OF BUCHANAN
- Date: 16th August 2003
- Summary: (W3)BUCHANAN, LIBERIA (AUGUST 15, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV PEOPLE WALKING IN STREETS OF BUCHANAN; SLV MODEL REBELS IN STREETS WITH AK-47 RIFLES; SCU AK-47 AND AMMUNITION; SLV REBELS WITH GUNS AND AMMUNITION STANDING AT SIDE OF ROAD; SLV MORE REBELS STANDING IN ROAD (7 SHOTS) 0.41 2. SCU GROUP OF REBELS SITTING IN SHADE AT SIDE OF ROAD; SLV RED CROSS TRUCKS IN STREET AND PEOPLE STANDING AROUND THEM 0.56 3. SLV REBELS WITH GUNS WALKING AROUND RED CROSS AMBULANCES 1.01 4. (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED RED CROSS WORKER SAYING "There is nothing in the hospital, it has run out of medicines. We don't know which kind of doctors they have So, we are mainly assessing the situation, we are assessing how many people and how much supply they have. That's the main thing, and we are also here to meet MODEL for the first time." 1.31 5. SLV GROUP OF PEOPLE STANDING WATCHING THE SCENE; SLV REBEL STANDING WITH GUN IN FOREGROUND AND MORE RED CROSS AMBULANCES AND VEHICLES ARRIVING IN BUCHANAN FOR FIRST TIME (5 SHOTS) 2.11 6. SLV INTERIOR OF HOSPITAL WITH PATIENTS BEING TREATED BY MEDICAL STAFF 2.15 6. SCU CHILD LYING ON A BED, BEING TREATED; SCU ANOTHER SMALL CHILD, WATCHING; SLV PATIENTS IN HOSPITAL WARD; SCU CHILD LYING ON ITS STOMACH ON BED (4 SHOTS) 2.32 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMMANDER REDBEARD, MODEL REBEL FIGHTER, SAYING "Well, I'm too happy that President Taylor left this country, it was one hour we gave him to leave this country. I mean, we are the future leaders of this country. So, we will not continue to keep someone who will be a local (indistinct) to the international community and we would continue to suffer. So, that's why we took our arms to fight." 2.53 8. SCU/CU SMALL CHILD LYING ON BED, WITH HAND BANDAGED 3.01 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SISTER CARMEN, AN ITALIAN CATHOLIC NUN WHO RUNS THE HOSPITAL AND WHO HAS BEEN IN LIBERIA FOR THIRTY THREE YEARS, SAYING "Our relation is good, because we are taking care of them, as we are taking care of anybody who comes." 3.09 10. SLV EXTERIOR OF DISPLACED CENTRE RUN BY ITALIAN CATHOLIC NUNS, WHERE SIX THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN SHELTER WITH CROWD OF PEOPLE STANDING ON THE STEPS; SLV MANY PEOPLE GATHERED AROUND A WATER PUMP 3.19 11. SCU WATER BEING POURED INTO VESSEL; SCY CHILD PUMPING WATER; SLV POSSESSIONS LYING IN THE SUN; MV CHILDREN SEATED IN A GROUP ON GROUND (4 SHOTS) 3.36 12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GABRIEL B. SMITH, A WORKER IN THE DISPLACED CENTRE, SAYING "The situation is getting increasingly desperate." 3.42 13. MV GROUP OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN SEATED ON GROUND; SCU LITTLE BOY SITTING AMONGST GROUP; SLV MANY PEOPLE SITTING IN SHADE WITH VESSELS AND POSSESSIONS IN FRONT OF THEM (4 SHOTS) 4.01 14. SLV PEOPLE IN STREETS OF BUCHANAN (2 SHOTS) 4.13 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 31st August 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BUCHANAN, LIBERIA
- Country: Liberia
- Reuters ID: LVA3P190NHJ4F44BOEA0H5LZ5LIZ
- Story Text: The situation remains tense in Liberia's second port
city Buchanan.
Rejoicing over President Charles Taylor's resignation
and departure on Monday (August 11) was cut short only a
day later, when fighting resumed between pro-government
forces and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (Model), a
rebel group based in the south.
The situation was calm, but tense on Friday (August 15)
when a Reuters team travelled to the city. MODEL rebels
were very much in evidence in the town, manning checkpoints
and controlling the port.
Rebels said there had been renewed fighting on Thursday
(August 14) night and Friday morning.
The hospitals in Buchanan were full of wounded fighters
and civilians.
Red Cross ambuances and vehicles could be seen in the
town for the first time on Friday. One Red Cross workers
told Reuters the main hospital in Buchanan had run out of
medicines and other supplies. He said they would be
assessing the situation in the coming days.
More than 6,000 people displaced by fighting have taken
shelter in a centre run by Italian nuns.
Sister Carmen, who has been in Liberia for 33 years,
said the relationship between local people and staff
working at the centre was a good one. "Our relation is good,
because we are taking care of them, as we are taking care of anybody who comes," she said.
Another worker at the centre, Gabriel B. Smith, said
the situation was growing "increasingly desperate."
Ecomil peacekeepers were despatched towards Buchanan,
but turned back, as they don't have enough manpower to
bring about a ceasefire. There are plans to create a buffer
zone.
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