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Rebels Take Key Bridge in Liberia Capital
EFLRebels took control of a key bridge at Liberiaâs capital Wednesday in fighting that shattered a day-old cease-fire pledge, sending thousands of families fleeing in a city desperately short of food, water and shelter. Yes! Come on boys, just a little more! Explosions boomed in the capital, Monrovia, on Wednesday, one day after rebel leaders announced a unilateral cease-fire. Hey, this is an African ceasefire weâre talking about. `This morning weâre still under attack,â Defense Minister Daniel Chea said after a night of shelling and gunfire. `Itâs still raining round after round of mortars.â As for the rebelsâ cease-fire pledge, Chea said, ``Iâm not impressed at all.ââ You can end it anytime, Dan. Put a bullet in Chuckâs head and youâll be a hero. You know you want to. By midday, rebels took and crossed the cityâs Stockton Bridge, Lt. General Roland Duo said. Controlling the bridge opens northern suburbs to the rebels, putting them in position to cut off the road to the main airport and encircle the capital. Chuck better take that plane soon. Taylor told The New York Times he would step aside within 10 days and hand over power to the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yundueh Monorkomna. Taylor will make the formal announcement Saturday, the Times reported Wednesday. Too late, Chuck. During the past two months, Taylor has announced and then amended plans to resign. On Wednesday, Chea suggested Taylor will remain as long as fighting rages. ``The president has definitely agreed to go to Nigeria,ââ Chea told The Associated Press. ``But he is not going to go under these circumstances.ââ Rebels derided Taylorâs latest departure pledge. ``Taylor is just bluffing,ââ rebel spokesman Kabineh Jaâneh said in Accra, Ghana, where cease-fire negotiations were held. ``You know how many times he has said this kind of thing? Weâll make sure he leaves.ââ Hurry up, please. Posted by: Steve 2003-07-23 |
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