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Family feud rocks Liberia rebels
The wife of the leader of Liberiaâs main rebels says she has replaced him. Aisha Conneh said that she, unlike her husband, would work with Liberiaâs interim leader Gyude Bryant to achieve peace and disarm rebel fighters. However, a rebel spokesman said that Mr Sekou Conneh was still in charge of the Lurd movement. "Donât listen to that woman! Heâs still in charge, really!" Speaking at her residence in Monrovia, Mrs Conneh, who calls herself the "Iron Lady", said she was the "boss lady" of Lurd, so Mr Conneh should do what she said. Donât mess with Mom. Especially when sheâs got her own army. She said she had funded the movement and installed her husband as its leader. "Itâs my money, dammit. He kept lying around the hut, drinking beer and watching tv, so I gave him the job to earn his keep." Last week some 30 Lurd commanders said they had replaced Mr Conneh as their leader. "It was in the pre-nup, she gets the group" "Iâm ready to work with Gyude Bryant because I want peace in Liberia," she said, accusing her husband of not wanting peace. The BBCâs Jonathan Paye-Layleh says Mr and Mrs Conneh have an on-off relationship but have a baby girl together. Guess that happened during the "on" part. Mrs Conneh, who is still breast-feeding, says she is the adopted daughter of Guineaâs President Lansana Conte. Oh, great. Now I have this mental picture of her addressing the troops with the baby sucking away. Guinea was accused of backing Lurd in their long struggle against Mr Taylor. Shipment of AKâs was the wedding gift from Dad. Mr Bryant was chosen at peace talks to head a power-sharing government of rebel group, members of Mr Taylorâs former administration and civilian political parties. He was Chuckyâs pick. "Believe me, if I tell the children (fighters) to bring their arms, they will bring all and I will turn them in. Anyone who will not turn in guns will be turned over to the UN to be dealt with," Mrs Conneh said. She might be able to do it. Nobody sez no to Mom Posted by: Steve 2004-01-20 |
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