Liberia: June 9, 2003

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The situation in Liberia's capital finally got bad enough for over 500 hundred foreign nationals (including United Nations staff and foreign diplomats) to flee the advancing rebels' heavy mortar and artillery fire. French Cougar helicopters from the amphibious assault ship L'Orage anchored 20 kilometers offshore landed at the Mamba Point at dawn to rescue the foreigners. After the fresh troops disembarked, the first wave of helicopters took off from the European Union's compound loaded with civilians. The helicopters then returned to take out those who had gathered overnight at the U.S. Embassy. Evacuees included about 100 Americans, as well as Lebanese, Egyptians, Indian nationals and some Africans from neighboring countries.

The State Department called on the rebels to honor their ceasefire pledge and to refrain from attacking civilians. Non-essential' embassy personnel have been ordered out, but the American embassy would remain open as long as Ambassador John Blaney with a handful of Marine guards, special forces and security contractors remained behind. 

Ghana had refused the UN request to arrest President Taylor when he was in their country, since that would have ignited animosity and potential violence against Ghanians at home and abroad. The Ghanians have been through this nightmare before - they saw John Doe killed in 1990 and the Liberian civil war continue for another six years. Right now, there's a growing distaste amongst West Africans for the United Nations and suspicion as to what their motives really are in the region. 

However, the Ghana peace talks were mooted since the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) rebels had advanced within five kilometers of the relatively upscale Mamba Point seafront suburb. Liberian forces and local radio reported more fighting on Monrovia's west side as the evacuations began. Loyalist units also moved heavy artillery up for an unsuccessful attempt to dislodge LURD fighters from the Duala Town suburb, about eight km from the city's center. Occasional explosions on the west side subsided at midday but picked up again at nightfall. 

LURD fighters were also seen moving through the swamp bordering Monrovia's north to open a new front in the eastern suburb of Paynesville.As many as 100 bodies were seen by a United Nations observer along just one road.

Most shops in the city were closed, black market price gouging was rampant and loyalist fighters continued looting abandoned houses near the front line. However, security in the port remained tight, since a private security firm remained to protect the warehouses.

Liberian President Taylor was believed to have abandoned the presidential palace for a compound in the Monrovia suburb of Congotown, near Liberia's international airport. Taylor has been given an ultimatum by the rebels to voluntarily step down from office or be ousted by force. - Adam Geibel

 

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