Liberian foes sign ceasefire
Liberia's government and rebel groups have signed a ceasefire agreement
at talks in Ghana, and now have 30 days to come up with a full peace
agreement.
Liberia's President Charles Taylor - indicted as a war crimes suspect -
will have to step down under the peace accord while an interim
administration takes over.
Mediators hope that the agreement - signed in the Ghanaian capital Accra
- will pave the way for the deployment of a peacekeeping force as well
as the full-scale peace deal.
Stability in Liberia is vital to its neighbours, like Sierra Leone and
Ivory Coast, which have also found themselves caught up in the fighting
in recent years.
Rebels, who control two-thirds of the country, had demanded that
President Charles Taylor step down within 30 days, as a condition of any
settlement.
Critics say the departure of Charles Taylor may lead to greater peace
and prosperity, and allow West Africa as a whole to concentrate on
economic development, rather than solving conflicts.
CHARLES TAYLOR
Indicted on war crimes charges
Under UN sanctions
Former warlord
Won 1997 elections
Mr Taylor, who has been indicted for war crimes by a United
Nations-backed tribunal in Sierra Leone, has said before he is prepared
to resign at the end of his term next year.
Defence Minister Daniel Chea signed the ceasefire accord on behalf of
the government, while Kabineh Janet and Tia Slanger signed on behalf of
the rebels, the Associated Press news agency reported.
The three men shook hands to cheers and applause from the delegates.
In Liberia, news of the cease-fire had residents running into the
streets of the capital, Monrovia, to celebrate.
Cars, white rags tied to their antennas in symbols of peace, drove
through roads honking. Shoppers burst into dancing at one roadside
market, AP reported.
The European Union urged President Taylor to cooperate with the war
crimes tribunal, which announced his indictment on 4 June.
Forces 'still fighting'
The BBC's Paul Welsh, in Monrovia, says the 30-day deadline for a full
and comprehensive peace agreement is no small task when just getting a
truce has taken two weeks.
The truce is to be monitored by the Organisation of West African States,
who will also look into the size of the peace-keeping force which will
be needed here in the months to come.
As the ceasefire was being signed in Ghana, our correspondent was in the
bush with Liberia's chief of security, north of the capital, Monrovia.
He said heavy fighting was going on with the rebel group Liberians
United for Reconciliation and Democracy near to the border with Sierra
Leone.
There is also said to be fighting going on in the east of the country
between the government and the other rebel group, Movement for Democracy
in Liberia.
The challenge for the commanders now is to get the message to their men
on the ground that the fighting is to stop to allow the more difficult
job of talking this country into a state of peace, our correspondent
adds.
Living in fear
Meanwhile, Nigeria has begun to evacuate some 6,000 civilians from
Monrovia. Ghana has already begun moving some 1,500 of its citizens back
home.
Liberia's Government has urged the people of Monrovia to return to life
as normal following last week's battle between the army and rebels.
The government is back in control of the capital and some shops and
businesses have re-opened, but residents still fear a renewed rebel
attack, our correspondent says.
Tens of thousands of people are still living rough in the city, afraid
to return to their homes.
The schools the president wants re-opened are temporary homes to
thousands of people.
Story from BBC NEWS:
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