Government forces heading to front line to fight rebels

(17 Jul 2003)

1. Government militiaman holding a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launcher
2. Wide shot of government militiamen walking along road
3. Government militiaman taking up position in grass
4. Close up of government militiaman crouching in grass
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) General Benjamin Yeaten, Military Chief for the Government Forces:
"I am not happy at all, because they (the rebels) are breaking the ceasefire. This is the problem that the Liberian people have to see this is very bad. I am not just happy, they are breaking the ceasefire."
6. Jeep carrying government militiaman comes to a halt
7. Government militiaman jumps off jeep with machine gun and bullet belt
8. Government militiamen walk down road towards Klay Junction
9. American military officer gets out of Liberian army jeep and into US vehicle
10. Wide shot of refugees carrying their belongings, walking away from Klay junction
11. Refugees walking along road

STORYLINE:

Rebels seeking to oust Liberian President Charles Taylor renewed attacks on government troops near the capital Monrovia on Thursday, the defence minister said.

The renewed fighting comes as negotiators raced to meet a deadline for reaching a peace deal.

Defence Minister Daniel Chea reported fresh fighting and claimed that rebel forces had advanced on Sastown, 20 kilometres north of Monrovia.

"The military situation is developing into a full-scale attack against our positions by LURD," Chea said.

But officials from the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, or LURD, one of the rebel movements seeking to oust Taylor said they were unaware of any unrest.

Just outside Monrovia General Benjamin Yeaten, Military Chief for the Government Forces told reporters the ceasefire had been broken.

Members of a team of US military advisers in Liberia to assess the situation travelled to the areas of reported fighting but would not speak to journalists.

In nearby Ghana, meanwhile, negotiators worked to reach agreement on an interim government that would facilitate the arrival of peacekeepers.

A regional force of West African troops have been promised, but Liberians, who feel historically closest to the United States - their country was founded by freed American slaves - are pressing for the arrival of American troops as well.

US President George Bush has said any deployment of American troops would be limited in size and duration and would depend on Taylor, a former warlord blamed for much of the violence in recent years, stepping down first.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed since Taylor came to power in 1989 and aid groups say virtually the whole population has been displaced by fighting at one time or another.

Taylor has been indicted for war crimes in neighbouring Sierra Leone, where he supported a brutal rebel movement known for hacking off civilian's hands,feet, ears, noses and lips as well as using child soldiers and other atrocities.

Taylor's fighters are notoriously ill-disciplined with mutilation and summary execution commonplace on all sides.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...