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CNN Live Today
Liberia in Crisis
Aired August 11, 2003 - 11:31 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Charles Taylor kept his word and stepped down today as the president of Liberia.
CNN's Jeff Koinange is at the scene in the Liberian capital of Monrovia this morning. He joins us now by telephone.
Hello to you, Jeff.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello there, Heidi.
And yes, he said he would do it, and he has indeed. He has stepped down as Liberia's 21st president, but we are awaiting right now. All the heads of state have gone upstairs to what was his former office here in the executive mansion. They will be there for a while before heading to the airport. We do understand he's going be heading out with one of the African heads of state. That has yet to be seen.
But we right now are awaiting word to see if he with are will follow through on leaving the country. The rebels have said they will give up the port if he does leave the country. We're waiting on that right now.
But he remained defiant to the very end, Heidi, and also sent a word of warning to his fellow African heads of state, saying today, it's Taylor, tomorrow it could be you -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Jeff, you say that former President Taylor has not left yet. What exactly is the delay now?
KOINANGE: Well, it's not really a delay. He's just taken them to his office for a little while. You know, they have been here for the last three, four hours. They will spend a little time, a few moments together, his last few moments in this executive mansion, and then the entire convoy, four heads of state, will be headed toward the airport. And we believe he will be accompanying one of those heads of state, heading to his new home away from home -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, CNN's Jeff Koinange, live from Monrovia today.
Thank you, Jeff.
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 - 11:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Charles Taylor kept his word and stepped down today as the president of Liberia.
CNN's Jeff Koinange is at the scene in the Liberian capital of Monrovia this morning. He joins us now by telephone.
Hello to you, Jeff.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello there, Heidi.
And yes, he said he would do it, and he has indeed. He has stepped down as Liberia's 21st president, but we are awaiting right now. All the heads of state have gone upstairs to what was his former office here in the executive mansion. They will be there for a while before heading to the airport. We do understand he's going be heading out with one of the African heads of state. That has yet to be seen.
But we right now are awaiting word to see if he with are will follow through on leaving the country. The rebels have said they will give up the port if he does leave the country. We're waiting on that right now.
But he remained defiant to the very end, Heidi, and also sent a word of warning to his fellow African heads of state, saying today, it's Taylor, tomorrow it could be you -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Jeff, you say that former President Taylor has not left yet. What exactly is the delay now?
KOINANGE: Well, it's not really a delay. He's just taken them to his office for a little while. You know, they have been here for the last three, four hours. They will spend a little time, a few moments together, his last few moments in this executive mansion, and then the entire convoy, four heads of state, will be headed toward the airport. And we believe he will be accompanying one of those heads of state, heading to his new home away from home -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, CNN's Jeff Koinange, live from Monrovia today.
Thank you, Jeff.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
