Rebels drop top post demand
2003-08-17 17:12
Accra, Ghana - Liberia's leading rebel group on Sunday dropped its demand for a top post in an interim power-sharing government, yielding on a condition that had threatened to scuttle a deal to end the country's 3-year-old war.
Leaders of Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) said they would no longer insist on the vice-chairmanship of a transition government that is due to lead Liberia for two years.
"We are doing this to show our commitment to the early resolution of the Liberian crisis," said George Dweh, a leader of the rebel delegation. "We want to prove to the entire world that this whole thing is not about Lurd wanting power."
West African mediators had given rebels until midnight on Saturday to drop the demand, saying they otherwise would have no choice but suspend peace talks for a month.
While rebels missed that deadline, talks on Sunday eventually secured rebels' agreement.
Liberia's two main rebel groups and government previously had agreed not to seek the top positions in the interim government.
The interim government is due to assume control in October, taking over from President Moses Blah.
Blah, Liberia's former vice president, was sworn in as Charles Taylor's successor August 11 after Taylor quit under US, West African and rebel pressure, and left Liberia.
Delegates said the power-sharing accord could now be signed as soon as Monday.
Rebels and government leaders have been meeting since June 4 in Accra, Ghana's capital. All sides broke a June 17 cease-fire signed at the talks, and negotiations were sidelined by what has been 2 1/2 months of rebel siege on the capital.
- AP