US promises $50m to Liberia
2006-03-16 09:25
Washington - Liberia's new leader, the first woman elected president of an African country, urged American MPs on Wednesday to help her make Liberia "America's success story in Africa".
In her speech to a joint session of congress, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf compared Liberia's devastation from two decades of warfare to that done by the December 2004 tsunami in Asia and last year's Hurricane Katrina in the United States.
She said: "Our country agonised with your citizens and the victims and families of these natural tragedies, and our country also agonised with itself over the effects of a senseless civil war."
Economic gains
Immediately after Sirleaf's speech, representative Dennis Hastert, speaker of the House of Representatives, promised her the house would pass legislation on Thursday appropriating $50m "to help sustain peace and consolidate economic gains in Liberia".
Sirleaf mentioned her predecessor, Charles Taylor, only once.
After speaking of developments toward repairing the country since her inauguration in January, she said, "While we seek national unity and reconciliation, we must not sacrifice justice."
She thanked Nigeria for "accepting to host Mr Charles Taylor" and added: "But, I say here, as I have said before, Liberia has little option, but to see that justice is done in accordance with the requirements of the United Nations and the broad international community".
Taylor faces war crimes
President George W Bush interceded with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to remove the warlord-president, who had caused much of the horrors of Nigeria and other West African nations.
Taylor faced war crimes and other charges in a UN-backed tribunal in neighboring Sierra Leone.
Obasanjo had said he would extradite Taylor at the request of an elected Liberian president.
Last week, Obasanjo's spokesperson Remi Oyo said: "There are discussions going on with the Liberian government on the future of Taylor. If any decision is reached, it will be made public."
Taylor 'surrendered for prosecution'
Representative Ed Royce, vice chairman of the House International Relations subcommittee on Africa, had campaigned to have Taylor surrendered for prosecution.
On Wednesday, Royce issued a statement that called Taylor "a threat to the region and an affront to justice. Many have been waiting for President Johnson-Sirleaf to call President Obasanjo on his commitment. We're still waiting".
In her emotional speech, interrupted 11 times by standing ovations, Johnson said she wanted the two countries to work together, "but we do not ask for patronage. We do not want to continue in dependence".
After outlining what had been done since her January inauguration, Johnson got her loudest applause and cheers after she outlined her goals and ended with a promise: "Honorable members, I will succeed".
- AP