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CNN Live At Daybreak
In Liberia, Shooting Has Started Again
Aired July 23, 2003 - 06:24 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about Liberia now. It was quiet overnight, but the shooting has started again. You may remember rebel forces in Liberia had announced a cease-fire on Tuesday, but as I said, sporadic fighting can be heard this morning.
For the latest, we head to Monrovia, the capital, and CNN's Jeff Koinange -- good morning, Jeff.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
And we did hear that rapid succession of small arms fire, AK-47s, not too long ago. Some stray bullets overnight landing right here behind me in the compounds of the U.S. Embassy. There was also mortar shell explosions in the streets of Monrovia. So this cease-fire, if it has been called, either one of two things is happening. One, the rebels on the ground are totally ignoring their leadership and think they have the momentum. Or, two, the word has not filtered down yet to street level. It'll take probably 24 to 36 hours to do that.
In the meantime, West African peacekeepers still trying to dot the Is and cross the Ts to discuss whether they will send a peacekeeping force here to war torn Liberia. At the same time, there are three U.S. naval ships on their way to the Med Sea, with 2,000 Marines on board and about 2,500 soldiers, waiting for the word from Washington whether to move into Liberia or not.
All this as embattled President Charles Taylor says in a "New York Times" article today, Wednesday, that he will step down in 10 days' time and he will make that official this coming Saturday. And why, do you ask, this coming Saturday? That is Liberia's official independence day -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
Jeff Koinange live from Monrovia, Liberia this morning.
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 23, 2003 - 06:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about Liberia now. It was quiet overnight, but the shooting has started again. You may remember rebel forces in Liberia had announced a cease-fire on Tuesday, but as I said, sporadic fighting can be heard this morning.
For the latest, we head to Monrovia, the capital, and CNN's Jeff Koinange -- good morning, Jeff.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
And we did hear that rapid succession of small arms fire, AK-47s, not too long ago. Some stray bullets overnight landing right here behind me in the compounds of the U.S. Embassy. There was also mortar shell explosions in the streets of Monrovia. So this cease-fire, if it has been called, either one of two things is happening. One, the rebels on the ground are totally ignoring their leadership and think they have the momentum. Or, two, the word has not filtered down yet to street level. It'll take probably 24 to 36 hours to do that.
In the meantime, West African peacekeepers still trying to dot the Is and cross the Ts to discuss whether they will send a peacekeeping force here to war torn Liberia. At the same time, there are three U.S. naval ships on their way to the Med Sea, with 2,000 Marines on board and about 2,500 soldiers, waiting for the word from Washington whether to move into Liberia or not.
All this as embattled President Charles Taylor says in a "New York Times" article today, Wednesday, that he will step down in 10 days' time and he will make that official this coming Saturday. And why, do you ask, this coming Saturday? That is Liberia's official independence day -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
Jeff Koinange live from Monrovia, Liberia this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
