Dictator Reneges On Pledge To Quit (Taylor - Liberia)

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 8-6-2003 | Tim Butler

[blam]

Dictator reneges on pledge to quit

By Tim Butcher, Africa Correspondent
(Filed: 06/08/2003)

President Charles Taylor of Liberia appeared last night to have reneged on a promise to quit his country next week, demanding that war crimes charges against him be dropped before he accepts Nigeria's offer of sanctuary.

The dictator is refusing to leave in fear of prosecution by a United Nations court.

Taylor had earlier promised to leave the country "within 48 hours" of handing power to his chosen successor next Monday, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa said yesterday. Nigerian officials said last night they did not believe Taylor would honour that promise.

His departure would pave the way for American peacekeepers to be deployed in Liberia to help a regional peacekeeping force led by Nigerian soldiers.

Washington has said it will send troops once a regional peacekeeping force is in place and Taylor has left.

Mr Mbeki's decision to make public a conversation with Taylor, after the dictator telephoned him on Monday promising to leave, was an attempt to maintain pressure on the Liberian leader.

Taylor has been described as a "psychopathic killer" by a senior UN official. His departure is seen as vital for long-term regional peace in West Africa where he has sponsored uprisings in Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast.

A further four dozen Nigerian peacekeepers flew to Liberia yesterday to join the 300 who arrived on Monday. The force will need more men and heavy equipment, including armoured personnel carriers, before it moves from Roberts international airport into the centre of the capital, Monrovia.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Big mistake.

[Cacophonous]

Has anyone drawn the "Taylor is the next Hitler" claim yet?

[Khurkris]

....uhhh....and this surprises who...?

[Consort]

Castro will take him in.

[blam]

"Castro will take him in."

LOL. My first thought was the Saudi's.

[TD911]

Why have anyone take him?

Pop him and he won't have to worry about any prosecution.

Or, capture him and let him be exiled to the middle of the Atlantic.

From 35,000 feet.


This also helps in any future dealings with the next "president," since the US has a "special relationship" with Liberia. ROTFLMAO.

[dennisw]

He should come out for Mohammed and Saudi Arabia will take him in.

[lilylangtree]

Is anyone surprised? I'm not. This is his MO. Scream, yell, cry anything the world wants to hear but when time comes for him to leave, he doesn't. The best way to get him to leave is to pull UN troops out and turn loose the rebels. The rebels will have his a** in no time flat. Good riddance to bad rubbish!

[MichiganCheese]

Oh my oh my, a murderous dictator didn't keep his word? I am truly shocked! Shocked I say.

[livius]

Yes, did anybody ever seriously think he was going to resign? Dictators don't do that.

However, the "rebels" are dominated by Islamist elements, so I'm not sure I want them to win, either.