Yahya Jammeh are you reading this. You may not be far behind before you are
chased out peacefully of course.
Cease-Fire Agreement Reached in Liberia
President Charles Taylor Pledges to Step Down
ACCRA, Ghana -- Liberian President Charles Taylor - accused of war crimes in
West African conflicts that saw tens of thousands killed, raped or maimed -
pledged Tuesday to step down under a cease-fire his government signed with
rebel groups.
The truce came as insurgents in Liberia's three-year civil war were at the
doorstep of the capital, Monrovia, prevented from overrunning it only by
fierce fighting with Taylor loyalists.
In Monrovia, Taylor's government appeared to hedge on the question of his
stepping down within hours of the deal's signing, suggesting the cease-fire
was the only binding part of the accord.
"We believe that all of those demands - like resignation, stepping aside,
interim government and unity government - will have to be thrashed out,"
spokesman Vaanii Paasawe told The Associated Press.
If Taylor does follow through with the requirement to leave office, it would
end the rule of a warlord who threw his country into near-perpetual civil
conflict for 14 years and allegedly trafficked in guns and diamonds while
backing rebel movements elsewhere.
He now faces the prospect of trial at a U.N.-backed court for alleged war
crimes in neighboring Sierra Leone, where he supported rebels who fought a
10-year insurgency. After the cease-fire was signed, a court spokesman
insisted Taylor still would have to face justice.
"Whether he's president or not, he's indicted by the special court, so he
should have his day in court," David Hecht said Tuesday.
But bringing him to trial could mean further violence in Liberia - and
Taylor could seek relief from the charges in return for stepping down. He
warned last week that his country would not know peace as long as the
indictment against him stands. "It has to be removed," he said.
In Liberia, news of the cease-fire sparked celebrations in the streets of
Monrovia. Cars, with white rags tied to their antennas in symbols of peace,
drove through rutted roads, honking. Shoppers burst into dance at one
roadside market.
Taylor's radio station announced only the cease-fire - not the rest of the
pact, so it was not clear if Monrovia's residents were aware of the
provision that Taylor resign. Earlier this month, rumors that Taylor had
been arrested on his war crimes indictment set off panic in his capital,
with people fearing a bloody power struggle in his absence.
Taylor's defense minister, Daniel Chea, who signed the cease-fire in Ghana's
capital, said the deal committed Taylor to stepping down, and to staying out
of the transition government that would follow.
"President Taylor fully supports this peace accord, and the government will
do anything to ensure its success," Chea said.
"We have done the greatest thing this afternoon by signing this cease-fire.
By this, we're letting the world know that the government of Liberia wishes
in no way to be part of any further bloodshed."
Mediators and observers in Accra burst into applause and raucous cheers as
Chea shook hands with Kabineh Janeh and Tia Slanger, delegates of the two
rebel movements that have seized more than 60 percent of the West African
nation.
The United States, the European Union, Nigeria and Ghana have pushed for an
end to the conflict in Liberia. Representatives from all four signed
Tuesday's agreement, as witnesses.
In 1989, Taylor launched an insurrection with Libyan backing that plunged
the nation into a 7-year civil war that killed at least 150,000 people.
He emerged as Liberia's strongest warlord and won presidential elections the
following year - elected in part by people who feared he would renew the war
if he lost.
But the country saw only two years of peace before the latest rebellion
erupted in 1999.
Since then, more than 1.3 million Liberians have been uprooted, including
hundreds of thousands who fled into neighboring countries. Rights groups say
both sides in the war have killed, raped, robbed and kidnapped civilians.
Taylor aligned himself with Sierra Leone's rebels early in their war,
selling them weapons in exchange for diamonds he would then sell abroad.
Taylor's ties to the Sierra Leone rebels date back more than a decade to
when he trained with rebel leader Foday Sankoh in Libya.
Sankoh - whose forces were notorious for chopping the hands off civilians -
also was indicted and is in custody.
The cease-fire accord, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press,
does not mention the war crimes indictment against Taylor. It calls for
"formation of a transitional government, which will not include the current
president."
Work on an agreement outlining the transitional government would begin
within 30 days and include representatives of the country's rebels and
political parties.
The U.N.-Sierra Leone court issued its indictment against Taylor only hours
before the negotiations in Ghana began on June 4. Hours later, an emotional
Taylor promised to surrender power in the interests of peace.
"If President Taylor is seen as a problem, then I will remove myself. I'm
doing this because I'm tired of the people dying. I can no longer see this
genocide in Liberia," he said at the time.
He then returned to Liberia - despite calls for Ghana to arrest him - and he
has not repeated the promise. Last week, he insisted Liberia would have no
peace unless the indictment was dropped.
To oversee the cease-fire deal, West African nations have discussed sending
a 50-member verification mission, said Sony Ugoh, an official with the West
African regional bloc that oversaw the talks.
That would be followed by a West African-led "stabilization force," Ugoh
said, adding that the force could include unspecified American assistance.
© 2003 The Associated Press
ACCRA, Ghana -- Liberian President Charles Taylor - accused of war crimes in
West African conflicts that saw tens of thousands killed, raped or maimed -
pledged Tuesday to step down under a cease-fire his government signed with
rebel groups.
The truce came as insurgents in Liberia's three-year civil war were at the
doorstep of the capital, Monrovia, prevented from overrunning it only by
fierce fighting with Taylor loyalists.
In Monrovia, Taylor's government appeared to hedge on the question of his
stepping down within hours of the deal's signing, suggesting the cease-fire
was the only binding part of the accord.
"We believe that all of those demands - like resignation, stepping aside,
interim government and unity government - will have to be thrashed out,"
spokesman Vaanii Paasawe told The Associated Press.
If Taylor does follow through with the requirement to leave office, it would
end the rule of a warlord who threw his country into near-perpetual civil
conflict for 14 years and allegedly trafficked in guns and diamonds while
backing rebel movements elsewhere.
He now faces the prospect of trial at a U.N.-backed court for alleged war
crimes in neighboring Sierra Leone, where he supported rebels who fought a
10-year insurgency. After the cease-fire was signed, a court spokesman
insisted Taylor still would have to face justice.
"Whether he's president or not, he's indicted by the special court, so he
should have his day in court," David Hecht said Tuesday.
But bringing him to trial could mean further violence in Liberia - and
Taylor could seek relief from the charges in return for stepping down. He
warned last week that his country would not know peace as long as the
indictment against him stands. "It has to be removed," he said.
In Liberia, news of the cease-fire sparked celebrations in the streets of
Monrovia. Cars, with white rags tied to their antennas in symbols of peace,
drove through rutted roads, honking. Shoppers burst into dance at one
roadside market.
Taylor's radio station announced only the cease-fire - not the rest of the
pact, so it was not clear if Monrovia's residents were aware of the
provision that Taylor resign. Earlier this month, rumors that Taylor had
been arrested on his war crimes indictment set off panic in his capital,
with people fearing a bloody power struggle in his absence.
Taylor's defense minister, Daniel Chea, who signed the cease-fire in Ghana's
capital, said the deal committed Taylor to stepping down, and to staying out
of the transition government that would follow.
"President Taylor fully supports this peace accord, and the government will
do anything to ensure its success," Chea said.
"We have done the greatest thing this afternoon by signing this cease-fire.
By this, we're letting the world know that the government of Liberia wishes
in no way to be part of any further bloodshed."
Mediators and observers in Accra burst into applause and raucous cheers as
Chea shook hands with Kabineh Janeh and Tia Slanger, delegates of the two
rebel movements that have seized more than 60 percent of the West African
nation.
The United States, the European Union, Nigeria and Ghana have pushed for an
end to the conflict in Liberia. Representatives from all four signed
Tuesday's agreement, as witnesses.
In 1989, Taylor launched an insurrection with Libyan backing that plunged
the nation into a 7-year civil war that killed at least 150,000 people.
He emerged as Liberia's strongest warlord and won presidential elections the
following year - elected in part by people who feared he would renew the war
if he lost.
But the country saw only two years of peace before the latest rebellion
erupted in 1999.
Since then, more than 1.3 million Liberians have been uprooted, including
hundreds of thousands who fled into neighboring countries. Rights groups say
both sides in the war have killed, raped, robbed and kidnapped civilians.
Taylor aligned himself with Sierra Leone's rebels early in their war,
selling them weapons in exchange for diamonds he would then sell abroad.
Taylor's ties to the Sierra Leone rebels date back more than a decade to
when he trained with rebel leader Foday Sankoh in Libya.
Sankoh - whose forces were notorious for chopping the hands off civilians -
also was indicted and is in custody.
The cease-fire accord, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press,
does not mention the war crimes indictment against Taylor. It calls for
"formation of a transitional government, which will not include the current
president."
Work on an agreement outlining the transitional government would begin
within 30 days and include representatives of the country's rebels and
political parties.
The U.N.-Sierra Leone court issued its indictment against Taylor only hours
before the negotiations in Ghana began on June 4. Hours later, an emotional
Taylor promised to surrender power in the interests of peace.
"If President Taylor is seen as a problem, then I will remove myself. I'm
doing this because I'm tired of the people dying. I can no longer see this
genocide in Liberia," he said at the time.
He then returned to Liberia - despite calls for Ghana to arrest him - and he
has not repeated the promise. Last week, he insisted Liberia would have no
peace unless the indictment was dropped.
To oversee the cease-fire deal, West African nations have discussed sending
a 50-member verification mission, said Sony Ugoh, an official with the West
African regional bloc that oversaw the talks.
That would be followed by a West African-led "stabilization force," Ugoh
said, adding that the force could include unspecified American assistance.
© 2003 The Associated Press
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