'Taylor is a murderer'
2003-07-24 14:01
Lagos - The Nigeria union of Journalists (NUJ) said on Thursday it would launch a legal challenge to block President Olusegun Obasanjo from granting asylum to Liberia's President Charles Taylor.
"Taylor is a murderer and a war criminal. We journalists will resist any attempt to grant him a safe haven in Nigeria," NUJ president Smart Adeyemi said.
"The suit papers are ready and will be filed later today or tomorrow morning," he said.
Two Nigerian journalists - Krees Imodibie, of the daily The Guardian and Tayo Awotusin of the Daily Champion - were killed in 1992 by troops loyal to then rebel leader Taylor during clashes with Nigerian peackeepers.
Nigeria is once more preparing to send soldiers to Liberia to police an internationally mediated ceasefire between Taylor's forces and a new generation of rebels.
Obasanjo has also offered to grant Taylor safe conduct to Nigeria if he agrees to step down. Taylor has agreed in principle to accept asylum, but has yet to say when he will quit Monrovia, which is beseieged by rebels.
- AFX