Devildogg4ever
07-21-03, 06:59 PM
Monrovia: Brutal fighting and heavy shelling rocked the Liberian capital Monrovia on Monday killing dozens of people, possibly as many as 100, as the diplomatic quarter came under sustained mortar fire.
The savage fighting between rebels and forces loyal to embattled President Charles Taylor, who now controls only a fifth of his country, came as special US troops arrived in Monrovia to protect the US mission in Liberia.
Enraged Liberians angry at US President George W. Bush’s failure to respond to international pressure to lead a peacekeeping force into Liberia piled up dead bodies outside the complex.
One mortar slammed into the US embassy and several others pounded nearby areas. Humanitarian sources said the toll could easily touch 100.
Bush said Monday he was “monitoring” the crisis in Liberia, but gave no indication when he would commit US forces to support a West African peacekeeping operation. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stepped up the pressure on the United States and west African leaders to move quickly and deploy troops, saying “I think we can still salvage the situation if troops are deployed.”
Earlier in the day, a contingent of US special forces arrived to bolster security at the US embassy but their deployment was interrupted when at least 20 mortar shells fell near the compound.
One hit a general store inside the embassy compound located near one of its three gates but there were no casualties or injuries.
Embassy personnel and journalists covering the arrival of the 41 US troops took shelter in the basement of the main embassy building. —AFP
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_22-7-2003_pg1_4
The savage fighting between rebels and forces loyal to embattled President Charles Taylor, who now controls only a fifth of his country, came as special US troops arrived in Monrovia to protect the US mission in Liberia.
Enraged Liberians angry at US President George W. Bush’s failure to respond to international pressure to lead a peacekeeping force into Liberia piled up dead bodies outside the complex.
One mortar slammed into the US embassy and several others pounded nearby areas. Humanitarian sources said the toll could easily touch 100.
Bush said Monday he was “monitoring” the crisis in Liberia, but gave no indication when he would commit US forces to support a West African peacekeeping operation. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stepped up the pressure on the United States and west African leaders to move quickly and deploy troops, saying “I think we can still salvage the situation if troops are deployed.”
Earlier in the day, a contingent of US special forces arrived to bolster security at the US embassy but their deployment was interrupted when at least 20 mortar shells fell near the compound.
One hit a general store inside the embassy compound located near one of its three gates but there were no casualties or injuries.
Embassy personnel and journalists covering the arrival of the 41 US troops took shelter in the basement of the main embassy building. —AFP
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_22-7-2003_pg1_4