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CNN Live At Daybreak

Liberian President Charles Taylor to Step Down

Aired August 11, 2003 - 06:08   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: We have Jeff Koinange live on the phone from Monrovia, Liberia.
Charles Taylor is expected to step down a couple of hours from now. Do you think he will -- Jeff?

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I do indeed, Carol. And we can tell you, Charles Taylor is at the airport right now, welcoming his guests. He's expecting three or four African heads of state to come witness the occasion.

I can tell you, we are at the executive mansion, where the entire ceremony will take place, and the room is filling up fast. Liberians are waiting in anticipation. The dignitaries, diplomatic core, they're all arriving, taking their seats. Nobody wants to miss this moment, Carol. As you well know, the world will be watching as Liberia 21st president, Charles Taylor, steps down and possibly leaves town sometime later today -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Tell us about his successor, the vice president. I know Liberia's constitution is actually a lot like the United States. The vice president would naturally take over if the president is ousted from office.

Jeff, are you still with us?

We lost Jeff Koinange again. We're going to get back to him, we promise, though, and we'll have a lot more about Vice President Blah taking over for Charles Taylor, at least we think so.

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 August 11, 2003 - 06:08   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We have Jeff Koinange live on the phone from Monrovia, Liberia.
Charles Taylor is expected to step down a couple of hours from now. Do you think he will -- Jeff?

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I do indeed, Carol. And we can tell you, Charles Taylor is at the airport right now, welcoming his guests. He's expecting three or four African heads of state to come witness the occasion.

I can tell you, we are at the executive mansion, where the entire ceremony will take place, and the room is filling up fast. Liberians are waiting in anticipation. The dignitaries, diplomatic core, they're all arriving, taking their seats. Nobody wants to miss this moment, Carol. As you well know, the world will be watching as Liberia 21st president, Charles Taylor, steps down and possibly leaves town sometime later today -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Tell us about his successor, the vice president. I know Liberia's constitution is actually a lot like the United States. The vice president would naturally take over if the president is ousted from office.

Jeff, are you still with us?

We lost Jeff Koinange again. We're going to get back to him, we promise, though, and we'll have a lot more about Vice President Blah taking over for Charles Taylor, at least we think so.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.