Posted on 08/05/2003 12:59:09 PM PDT by HAL9000
MONROVIA - Liberia's president appears to be backing away from a promise to leave his war-battered country and take up asylum in Nigeria.Charles Taylor agreed to quit his post next Monday in a bid to end fighting between government forces and rebel groups.
But on Tuesday, a Nigerian official said Taylor is now demanding that a war crimes court in neighbouring Sierra Leone drop charges against him before he leaves the country.
Taylor's latest demand comes just a day after the first contingent of West African troops arrived in Liberia to oversee his departure.
Nigerian soldiers arrived by helicopter at the country's main airport in the capital Monrovia Monday.
Setting up defences
The Nigerians have been concentrating on setting up defences at the airport and have not yet been inside the city. But their presence has stopped the shooting on all sides and families have emerged from homes to look for food.
Relief workers, including Doctors Without Borders, have been able to cross the no-man's land between the rebel-held port and the city.
Meanwhile, American Marines are offshore in two warships, but it is unclear whether they will come ashore.
A UN peacekeeping force is expected to join the African forces within a few months.
He's in no real position to bargain. However, the African states who are sending in the bulk of the peacekeepers are likely to bargain with him anyway. As with bin Laden's paid escape from Tora Bora, money talks loudly in Africa. Since the Africans and the UN are "in charge" here, expect Taylor to bribe his way into a free pass. I'll be surprised, and pleased, if he winds up dead, instead.
Congressman Billybob
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