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Africa: West
U.N. Peacekeepers Secure Liberian Town
2003-12-28
U.N. peacekeepers took up positions in a rebel-held Liberian town Saturday for the first time since arriving in this West African nation in August to secure a peace deal aimed at ending years of war. The deployment comes a day after Liberia’s interim head of state, Gyude Byrant, met with rebels and convinced them to allow peacekeepers into rebel-held territory.
"Guys? Please? Really now!"
On Thursday, Liberians United for Reconciliation rebels stopped Pakistani peacekeepers from deploying in Tubmanburg, 20 miles north of Monrovia. The rebels were demanding senior posts in key government departments, including police, immigration and port management. On Saturday, a contingent of Pakistani troops rolled into Klay, a small town 20 miles northwest of the capital. The town has been under rebel control for over six months.
Must have been the fierce reputation the Paks have as UN peacekeepers that persuaded them.
U.N. peacekeeping commander Gen. Daniel Opande continued on to Tubmanburg and said peacekeepers would also move units there soon. Saturday’s deployment ``begins the expressway to renewed civil war long road to reunite the whole country together,’’ Opande said. The Pakistani commander in Klay, Irfan Azam, told residents his troops would do their best to keep the peace. ``We can assure you that you will never feel let down,’’ Azam said.
How reassuring. When’s the balloon going up?
One small group of rebels danced, sang and burned their bras smoked marijuana after peacekeepers forced them to dismantle a checkpoint.
Are we sure Camus hasn’t come back to life to write this novel?

Kind of an African Myth of Sysiphus?
Posted by:Steve White

#2  The rebels were demanding senior posts in key government departments, including police, immigration and port management.

Not the jobs so much as the bribes that go with them? They should be working on UN jobs for the perks that go along.
Posted by: john   2003-12-28 8:30:22 PM  

#1  "U.N. Peacekeepers" and "Secure" - now there's an oxymoron.

Come to think of it, so is "U.N." and "Peace."
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2003-12-28 1:16:03 PM  

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