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âHundreds killedâ in Liberian clashes
EFLUp to 400 people have been killed in recent fighting around the capital, Monrovia, Liberia's health minister has said. Peter Coleman said that 150 bodies had been found in New Kroo Town, scene of fierce fighting between rebels and government troops. Fighting has quietened down since both sides agreed to a truce on Wednesday but President Charles Taylor's Kiss FM radio station urged residents of the north-western districts not to return home yet as government troops were "mopping up" rebel forces. KISS FM, 7.62 on your radio dial, Music to kill by. Earlier, the United Nations-backed war crimes court told BBC News Online that Mr Taylor must still be arrested. He warned on Thursday that there would no peace in Liberia unless his indictment was lifted. There won't be peace until he's dead. Peace talks between the government and rebels are expected to continue in Ghana on Friday. Both sides have agreed to a truce while the talks continue and West African mediators say they are hopeful that a deal can be agreed this week. But rebel forces, who control some two-thirds of Liberia and have been on the outskirts of Monrovia for the past week, are still refusing to talk to President Taylor or his delegation. Last week, on the day the talks first opened, the Special Court for Sierra Leone released an indictment against Mr Taylor and issued an international arrest warrant. "Our previous statements still stand regarding the indictment of Charles Taylor," Tom Perriello, acting spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, told BBC News Online on Friday. "All war crimes indictees must be delivered to the Special Court, including Charles Taylor." Mr Taylor has offered to resign if that would bring peace to Liberia but appears to be holding out for immunity from arrest. "If there is any unceremonial departure, there will be a bloodbath here," he warned. "And I'm just the guy to do it" Posted by: Steve 2003-06-13 |
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