Monrovians beg rebels to stay

2003-07-30 18:19

Monrovia - At least 1 500 Liberians held a peace rally Wednesday in Monrovia to urge rebels occupying parts of the city not to retreat until international peacekeepers arrived, several witnesses said.

They confirmed by telephone that the rally was held in the rebel-controlled Bushrod Island in the north of the Liberian capital, with estimates of the crowd ranging from 1 500 to 4 500.

Raymond Zarbay, a journalist living in the area, said the marchers waved banners saying "We want peace," "We are tired of this senseless war," and "Uncle Sam must come at once."

They then marched on the local head office of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) rebel movement, pleading them to stay on as they feared retribution by government forces.

Sekou Fofana, Lurd deputy general secretary of civil administration, told Logan Town - handed Lurd a memorandum saying they feared a genocide if the rebels "left them to the mercy of President Charles Taylor's forces".

The residents said "the last two times we retreated, Taylor's renegade soldiers went on a violence spree, looting, raping and killing. They want us to stay until peacekeepers arrive to prevent a genocide," Fofana said, adding: "We will remain in order to protect them."

Taylor's men will massacre civilians

Zarbay said the show of support for Lurd was not under duress. "Some banners are saying that the deaths outside Monrovia attributed to the Lurd by the government are lies."

Lurd's Fofana, meanwhile, said his forces would keep up an offensive on two strategic bridges linking northern Monrovia to the government-controlled heart of the city and eastern districts.

"We will not leave the bridges. We know Charles Taylor's men. The civilians on our side will be massacred if we leave before foreign peacekeepers come," Fofana said.

The United States has so far not responded to international appeals to lead a multinational force in Liberia but said it will send soldiers on a "limited" mission only if Taylor leaves the country.

US President George W. Bush has however ordered three US ships to go to the region to act as a backup for a proposed west African peacekeeping force. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA