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President Charles Taylor to Step Down in Liberia
Aired July 04, 2003 - 10:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: We're closely following a dramatic development in Liberia. Liberia's embattled President Charles Taylor has agreed to step down amid intensifying U.S. pressure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. CHARLES TAYLOR, LIBERIA: Before I transit, I think it is important that peacekeepers be present.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And that condition of his resignation means U.S. peacekeepers could be dispatched to the war-torn nation in West Africa as early as this weekend.
CNN senior White House correspondent John King is at the White House with more on that -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Fredericka, a very cautious reaction here at the White House. No official reaction as yet, meaning a statement from the president or anyone in the White House press office. Behind the scenes, officials say they need to see more details of this. President Bush had made clear that he believed the correct order of events would be for President Taylor to leave first, and then for an international peacekeeping force to move in.
Now, the White House says it is not flat-out opposed to having some sort of an international force in to guarantee President Taylor's safe passage, to make sure that all of the rival factions lay down their arms and that fighting does not resume, but whether that would involve any U.S. troops is a major open question at the moment. Most officials here believe that if there is an immediate force to head in during a transitional period and a transit period for President Taylor, it would be a West African force.
You may have a helicopter. Mr. Bush is leaving the White House to go out to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday with some members of the U.S. armed services out here.
U.S. officials tell us they are waiting for more details on President Taylor's commitment to leave. He has negotiated that had with the government of Nigeria.
In the meantime, they say the military planning is intensifying. U.S. troops would be prepared to go on very short notice, but they say they simply need to know more.
The bottom line at this White House is they do not want to put the troops into a hostile situation, and to be quite frank, Fredricka, they don't completely trust President Taylor's word.
WHITFIELD: And, John, this announcement comes not long after it was reported that the White House had given an ultimatum to President Taylor. But then there were sources from the State Department, who said there were no ultimatums put out there. What's the story? Do you have any idea from the White House this afternoon?
KING: That is a tough -- it's a one to get the exact details on that one. Senior Liberian officials were telling our correspondent there that there was 48-hour ultimatum. Officials here in Washington disputing any timeline on an ultimatum, although they did say that the United States made very clear that President Taylor needed to go.
Now, there have been a number of diplomatic conversations involving the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, West African neighbors of Liberia speaking with the advice and consent of the United States. So, it's a little confused over exactly what was said. The Liberians say 48 hours. Here in Washington, they are saying tough talk, not a specific ultimatum. We're still trying to sort out exactly what was said by whom to President Taylor.
WHITFIELD: All right, John King, thanks very much from the White House.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired July 4, 2003 - 10:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: We're closely following a dramatic development in Liberia. Liberia's embattled President Charles Taylor has agreed to step down amid intensifying U.S. pressure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. CHARLES TAYLOR, LIBERIA: Before I transit, I think it is important that peacekeepers be present.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And that condition of his resignation means U.S. peacekeepers could be dispatched to the war-torn nation in West Africa as early as this weekend.
CNN senior White House correspondent John King is at the White House with more on that -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Fredericka, a very cautious reaction here at the White House. No official reaction as yet, meaning a statement from the president or anyone in the White House press office. Behind the scenes, officials say they need to see more details of this. President Bush had made clear that he believed the correct order of events would be for President Taylor to leave first, and then for an international peacekeeping force to move in.
Now, the White House says it is not flat-out opposed to having some sort of an international force in to guarantee President Taylor's safe passage, to make sure that all of the rival factions lay down their arms and that fighting does not resume, but whether that would involve any U.S. troops is a major open question at the moment. Most officials here believe that if there is an immediate force to head in during a transitional period and a transit period for President Taylor, it would be a West African force.
You may have a helicopter. Mr. Bush is leaving the White House to go out to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday with some members of the U.S. armed services out here.
U.S. officials tell us they are waiting for more details on President Taylor's commitment to leave. He has negotiated that had with the government of Nigeria.
In the meantime, they say the military planning is intensifying. U.S. troops would be prepared to go on very short notice, but they say they simply need to know more.
The bottom line at this White House is they do not want to put the troops into a hostile situation, and to be quite frank, Fredricka, they don't completely trust President Taylor's word.
WHITFIELD: And, John, this announcement comes not long after it was reported that the White House had given an ultimatum to President Taylor. But then there were sources from the State Department, who said there were no ultimatums put out there. What's the story? Do you have any idea from the White House this afternoon?
KING: That is a tough -- it's a one to get the exact details on that one. Senior Liberian officials were telling our correspondent there that there was 48-hour ultimatum. Officials here in Washington disputing any timeline on an ultimatum, although they did say that the United States made very clear that President Taylor needed to go.
Now, there have been a number of diplomatic conversations involving the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, West African neighbors of Liberia speaking with the advice and consent of the United States. So, it's a little confused over exactly what was said. The Liberians say 48 hours. Here in Washington, they are saying tough talk, not a specific ultimatum. We're still trying to sort out exactly what was said by whom to President Taylor.
WHITFIELD: All right, John King, thanks very much from the White House.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
