Posted on 07/25/2003 6:45:16 AM PDT by Brian S
Friday, July 25, 2003 ADVERTISEMENT
MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) - Heavy shelling hit the refugee-crowded neighbourhood of the U.S. Embassy on Friday, killing at least 11 civilians, including several children.
One shell in the barrage, the worst since Monday in a near week-long rebel attack on Monrovia, struck inside the U.S. Embassy compound, exploding harmlessly on rocky ground, a U.S. official said. Fifteen to 20 shells hit within 10 minutes at the height of the attack, sending residents of downtown and the blocks around the high-walled, heavily-guarded U.S. Embassy compound running, terrified, for cover.
A shell at the open of the attack landed near two boys who stood brushing their teeth in a yard near the embassy, killing both.
Their bodies lay with those of two other victims at a Medecins Sans Frontieres clinic.
Blocks away from the embassy, the yard of a school where hundreds of war-displaced have crowded took a direct hit. Refugees there said the shell had killed seven, and wounded at least a dozen.
At the school, wailing crowds surrounded the bodies of five victims, already in white body bags an hour after the main attack.
Weeping uncontrollably, one woman cradling a two-week-old baby stood next to a body bag holding her sister, the child's mother.
A sixth body, that of a boy in his early teens, lay curled in a corner.
"What do they want to achieve?" cried Peter Garwah, 27, at the school. "Innocent people are dying, not soldiers."
A fresh attack after the main one sent sobbing, terrified survivors running for cover, crouching under schoolhouse tables and pressing up against classroom walls, screaming.
The full casualty toll was still being assessed.
Witnesses said two shells struck the nearby compound of Radio Veritas, a Catholic-run radio station that over the years has been outspoken against President Charles Taylor.
The shells hit in blocks surrounding the U.S. Embassy compound, where thousands have pressed in for shelter and in hopes of safety.
Residents, angry, flooded the streets after the main attack to plead for help from the United States, which has yet to announce any participation in a West African-led peace force for this American-founded country.
"I want to tell George Bush to do something hurriedly, very fast and quickly," Emmanuel Sieh, 28, said. "People are dying every day."
A woman wrapped in white stood before the embassy, swaying, arms raised beseechingly in the air.
"We're tired! We're tired!" she cried.
From the U.S. compound, a marine peered at her through binoculars.
Both sides in Liberia's war have accused the other of shelling the densely populated city.
Rebels have pushed Taylor's forces into Monrovia's downtown, pressing home a three-year campaign to oust the Liberian leader.
Also Friday, Defence Minister Daniel Chea said rebels had retaken strategic Stockton Bridge overnight. The bridge is one of three key crossings fought over since Saturday.
Government forces briefly had taken the bridge Friday, for the first time in the latest rebel attack.
Rebels have tried to press across the bridges on their drive to downtown, while government forces have battled to cross over and encircle the rebels and drive them from the city's port.
"I'm highly disappointed," Chea said at midmorning, as wounded from the shelling flowed into clinics, amid sporadic, lingering mortar rounds. "Nobody seems to be serious about peace in Liberia."
Insurgents launched their third attack in two months on the capital Saturday. Fighting since then has killed hundreds. Monday's shelling had marked the heaviest day of fighting since June, and claimed heavy casualties.
Taylor, a warlord-turned-president behind 14 years of near-perpetual conflict in Liberia, has promised to step down when foreign peacekeepers arrive. Taylor has repeatedly hedged on promises to cede power since June.
Moral of Bowden's tale as he put it? These "poor oppressed souls" aren't interested in peace. They want POWER even if it means their countries are destroyed. F'EM I say!
Lieberia was founded by freed slaves and what do they have to show for their "freedom". After 140 years they still have out houses and open sewers.
We have NO national interest in Lieberia so let the best man win.
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