LIBERIA

(Hotspot Micro-Report)

Liberia has been steeped in
conflict for nearly fourteen years.  For the last three, violence and
tension have been escalating.  The fighting between government and rebel
troops has left hundreds of civilians dead.  Aid agencies are facing a
humanitarian disaster due to violence, looting and the loss of ports and the
city of Buchanan to rebels limiting their effectiveness in delivering
relief.  The president Charles Taylor is deeply rooted in the hostilities;
many regional leaders accuse him of destabilizing the sub-Saharan region. 
If he leaves office there is the danger of a power vacuum.  Similarly, his
troops may begin to loot the local area and cause harm to the populace. 
If the peace process is not handled correctly, rebels may take the government
by force.  The presence of West African peacekeepers has initially
alleviated fighting.  However, without the presence of US troops and the
stabilization of the region, Liberia could continue in its cycle of violence.

• Rape (Human Rights Watch)

• Forcible recruitment of children under 18 years (UN OCHA)

• Mutilations (UN Security Council)

• Extra-judicial executions (BBC News Online)

• Arbitrary arrest and detention (Human Rights Watch; UN Security Council)

• Deliberate targeting of civilians (UN IRIN)

1. International Press/Media

2. Embassies

3. International Human Rights NGOs

4. International Relief NGOs

BBC News


Liberian joy as peace troops land

August 4, 2003


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3121535.stm

Reuters

Liberian rebels LURD say to pull out of capital

August 4, 2003

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3214517

Agence France-Presse

Liberia’s Taylor: warlord turned president facing war crimes charges

August 4, 2003

http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/6a14470268b0cfa9c1256d780043f641?OpenDocument

IRIN

Liberia: Taylor sets date for resigning but not leaving,

August 2, 2003,


http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=35759&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=LIBERIA

Human Rights Watch

Liberia: Peacekeepers Should Not Be Shielded from Justice

August 1, 2003



http://www.hrw.org/press/2003/08/liberia080103.htm

International Crisis Group

iberia: ICG urges U.S. to lead a robust multinational force

July 16, 2003


http://www.genocidewatch.org/ICGJuly16Liberia.htm

All About Liberia

Taylor agrees to Nigeria exit but Obasanjo foresees war if…

7^th July 2003


http://www.allaboutliberia.com/july2003/230707n5.htm

BBC News

US Military Team In Liberia


7^th July 2003


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3048368.stm

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks

LIBERIA: Taylor accepts asylum in Nigeria


7^th July 2002

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=35212&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=LIBERIA

Alert Net

Candidates to replace Liberia’s Taylor

3^rd July 2003


http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03244982.htm

CNN News

McCann: ‘Many reasons’ to go into Liberia

5^th July 2003


http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/07/03/otsc.mccann/index.html