Rebel forces enter Liberian capital; thousands of civilians, government soldiers flee

Associated Press | July 19, 2003 | ALEXANDRA ZAVIS

[HAL9000]

MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) -- Rebels battling to oust President Charles Taylor pushed into the capital Saturday, as thousands of civilians and government soldiers fled the assault.

Using heavy machine gun and mortar fire, rebels crossed the bridge marking the boundary of Monrovia, said Liberia's military chief Gen. Benjamin Yeaten -- the third time in the recent fighting that rebels made it into the city. At the end of June, rebels retreated after government retaliation and international pressure.

Insurgents appeared to be heading toward Monrovia's port, said residents of the Duala neighborhood, a largely commercial area where rebel troops have been seen. People inside the city center could hear explosions.

Despite the onslaught, rebels attending peace talks in nearby Ghana denied that their movement, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, or LURD, had plans to seize the capital.

Peace negotiators are working to reach a deal on a transition government and elections after a deadline for an agreement was extended by five days to Tuesday.

Earlier Saturday, thousands of panicked Liberians carrying clothes, mattresses and furniture ran toward central Monrovia as LURD rebels closed in from the northwestern outskirts.

"The sounds are terrifying. We want to move, but besides not knowing where it's safe to go to, we don't want our homes looted if we leave,'' said a woman who did not want to be identified.

Later, thousands streamed back in the opposite direction chanting, "We want peace. No more war,'' saying they were exhausted after years of bloodshed. The defense minister warned there was mortar fire ahead and urged them to turn back. Some left voluntarily, others chased away by authorities using whips and firing guns in the air.

Along with peace protesters were crowds of furious residents demanding to know when a long-promised peacekeeping force would arrive -- which they hope will led by Americans, as being considered by President Bush.

Liberians, whose country was founded in the 19th century by freed American slaves, feel a strong historic bond to the United States.

"Everyone is talking about sending troops, but no one wants to send them. What is the delay? They should be here,'' Information Minister Reginald Goodrich said.

The thousands marching for peace, some waving branches of mango leaves, were apparently buoyed by rumors that a team of officials from the Economic Community of West Africa, or ECOWAS, which has promised to send peacekeepers, had arrived.

Defense Minister Daniel Chea said the team was delayed and urged the marchers to retreat. Some said they wanted to go to the front lines to tell rebels they wanted fighting to stop.

"I'm just trying to reason with them to get off the street. There is no reason for them to be on the street with mortar fire just 2 1/2 miles away,'' said Chea, wearing black jeans and pistols on his hips.

Meanwhile, hundreds of government militia fighters -- some wearing women's wigs in lurid colors to frighten opponents -- were seen returning to Monrovia from their defense posts outside the capital.

We are tired, that is a fact. So we decided to retreat,'' said a 27-year-old man who has fought with Taylor since 1991.

Other government militia pressed on. Fighters, some as young as 14, piled into pickup trucks. They beat their chests as they revved up for battle and raced out of the city toward the fighting.

A militiaman who gave only the name General Romeo said he would keep fighting as long as government forces were under rebel attack. "Our president agreed for a cease-fire so they better not come here or else I will use this today,'' he said, waving a grenade launcher.

Still, the retreat by some militiamen reflected a growing unease within Taylor's forces, much of which is made up of young men who say they fear being abandoned by the president.

Arthur Johnson, 43-year-old taxi driver, was among those fleeing, a plastic bag of belongings over his shoulder.

"We want the American government to help save our lives. We have no place to go. We and Liberia are tired of running away,'' said Johnson, who added it was the third time this month he had fled his home.

Bush has tied any deployment of American troops to the departure of Taylor, who accepted an offer to live in Nigeria but says he will leave Liberia only when peacekeepers arrive. Rebels fear any force that comes in before Taylor departs will only strengthen his embattled regime.

Taylor rose to power in 1989. Fourteen years of sporadic fighting followed, killing hundreds of thousands of people and displacing many more. A U.N.-backed tribunal has indicted Taylor for war crimes in neighboring Sierra Leone, where he supported a rebel movement infamous for hacking off people's hands, feet, ears, noses and lips.

Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

[txzman]

Can you hear the liberal whining yet? While they attack Bush on Iraq, they will soon start screaming why aren't we in Liberia!?

[The Duke]

Hmmm...something tells me that if the liberals want us to go into Liberia then one of the following MUST be true:

• The revels AREN'T communists.

• The liberals see an opportunity to steer Bush towards a disaster.