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ACCRA, Ghana (AP) -- Liberia's rebels and government picked a Monrovia businessman to lead the country's post-war transition government, and international mediators closed peace talks after 78 tumultuous days. The chief mediator, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, officially announced selection of Gyude Bryant to head the two-year power-sharing accord, and sent warring parties home to implement it. "The first step of unifying the people starts from today,'' Abubakar said. "Do not let your people down.'' Selection of the transitional government's leaders follows Monday's signing of a peace accord, made possible by warlord-president Charles Taylor's Aug. 11 resignation and flight into...

<p>MONROVIA, Liberia &#8212; Rebels lifted their siege of Liberia's capital yesterday, and 200 American troops landed to support a West African peace force, breaking off a 10-week campaign that routed the president, killed more than 1,000 civilians and left hundreds of thousands trapped and starving.</p>

Wed August 13, 2003 10:07 AM ET By Clar Ni Chonghaile MONROVIA, Liberia (Reuters) - Hungry Liberians stormed into Monrovia's port to grab food Wednesday as rebel fighters packed up to hand it over to U.S.-backed West African peacekeepers and pull out of the battered capital. New President Moses Blah said fighter planes from a floating U.S. task force would soon start patrols to help bring peace, after the flight into exile of pariah leader Charles Taylor raised hopes of an end to nearly 14 years of strife. The rebels have promised to pull out of the port Thursday to...

Wednesday August 13, 12:58 AM Liberian rebels demand power after Taylor's exit Liberian rebels rejected the country's new president and demanded control of an interim government, as US troops sought to open a gateway to the war-ravaged nation for humanitarian aid. "We want to lead the interim government," Sekou Fofana, the deputy secretary general of Liberia's main rebel group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), told AFP. "We will never accept to serve under Moses Blah," he said. Former warlord Charles Taylor resigned as president on Monday and handed over power to Blah, the vice president, in a formal...

New Fighting Erupts in Liberia with Taylor Gone Tue August 12, 2003 08:05 AM ET By David Clarke MONROVIA, Liberia (Reuters) - New fighting raged in Liberia Tuesday a day after former President Charles Taylor flew into exile amid hopes his departure would help bring peace to the war-shattered West African country. Liberia's government and a rebel faction called Model accused each other of starting the latest bloodshed as the rebels made a big advance to just a few miles from the international airport outside the capital Monrovia. Meanwhile another rebel faction, holding the port that is key to getting...

<p>MONROVIA, Liberia &#8212; Charles Taylor, the warlord who brought 14 years of death and destruction to Liberia, yielded the presidency yesterday under pressure from rebels, the United States and West African neighbors &#8212; but not before vowing, "I will be back."</p>

MONROVIA, Liberia, Aug. 11 — Liberia’s President Charles Taylor reluctantly gave up power on Monday under pressure from the United States to end slaughter that has gripped Liberia and West Africa for nearly 14 years. AFTER CEDING POWER, Taylor was expected to leave the broken shell of a nation founded by freed American slaves in the 19th century. At least 2,000 people perished in the most recent fighting with rebels for the capital Monrovia. The former warlord handed over power to Vice President Moses Blah, a former brother-in-arms from the Liberian leader’s days of bush war and in Libya’s guerrilla...

US warships sail into Monrovia as Taylor finally goes By Declan Walsh in Monrovia 12 August 2003 Up to the last moment many Liberians could hardly believe it was true. But after six years of destructive rule, Charles Taylor surrendered power to his deputy, Moses Blah, at his executive mansion yesterday and flew into exile abroad. Almost immediately, the momentum for a peaceful solution to Liberia's war started to spin faster. Three US warships sailed before the shores of Monrovia, causing joyful residents to flood onto the city's rubbish-strewn beaches to watch them pass. Two large helicopters rose from the...

July 7 — By David Clarke MONROVIA (Reuters) - A U.S. military team flew into Liberia on Monday to look at how best to bring stability to the broken West African country as President Charles Taylor prepares for foreign exile. The first group of the humanitarian survey team touched down in a helicopter at the heavily-fortified U.S. embassy in the steamy coastal capital Monrovia. Gun-toting U.S. Marines leapt out in flak jackets and helmets. The 20-member team is seen as a possible precursor to a larger force, which the United States is considering and Liberians are praying will come in...