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CNN Live Saturday
Fighting Continues in Liberia
Aired July 19, 2003 - 16:15 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.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Fighting continues on the outskirts of Liberia's capital. Today, rebel fighters captured a bridge in their push to the center of Monrovia. Liberian President Charles Taylor vows to fight the rebels until the end. CNN's Jeff Koinange has more now from the front line of this conflict.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Civilians flee while we head towards the front. An all-too-familiar scene in a civil war that's lasted more than 10 years. Old, young, women, children, even man's best friend, all head for safety in Monrovia as rebel forces push towards the capital.
Many weary of the constant sounds of war.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, yeah, fighting, shooting, the sound, the launching, the firing, all.
KOINANGE: We continue towards the front, to the market square, normally a beehive of activity where traders and buyers alike come together. Today, a ghost town, where only a few daring government soldiers venture to go.
A few hundred yards away, the last checkpoint. Soldiers mill about, tired and war weary, from more than a month of fighting. Morale is low, as is the supply of ammunition.
We press on as a group of soldiers try to raise morale with song.
Eventually, we reach the bridge that is considered the gateway into Monrovia. The battle lines have shifted overnight, and only a few government soldiers are left. They urge us on.
(on camera): We are literally meters away from the front line. Rebel forces are about 100 yards across that bridge, and that is the key strategic (UNINTELLIGIBLE) bridge. Behind me, government forces heading that way slowly to see what they can do to engage the rebel forces. We can hear 82 and 81 mm mortar fire being fired consistently and we can also hear small arms fire all around us. It looks like the rebels are making their last push into the capital of Monrovia.
(voice-over): We decided it's not safe to go any further. We turned back.
CROWD: We want peace! We want peace! KOINANGE: On our way, thousands chanting for peace, after hearing reports peacekeepers from West Africa have landed.
In the middle, Liberia's defense minister, Daniel Chea, trying to play down their excitement.
DANIEL CHEA, MINISTER OF DEFENSE: I'm just trying to reason with them to get off the streets. We know that they have anticipated the arrival of everyone here, but if and when that happens, the government will officially inform them. There's no need for anybody to anticipate their coming by going to the streets, especially when we have mortar fire just barely two and a half miles down the road.
KOINANGE: Throughout the afternoon, intense fighting progressed into the urban areas of Monrovia. LURD (ph) rebels say they had no plans of attacking the capital. Those plans now seem to have clearly changed.
Jeff Koinange, CNN, Monrovia, Liberia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 19, 2003 - 16:15 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Fighting continues on the outskirts of Liberia's capital. Today, rebel fighters captured a bridge in their push to the center of Monrovia. Liberian President Charles Taylor vows to fight the rebels until the end. CNN's Jeff Koinange has more now from the front line of this conflict.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Civilians flee while we head towards the front. An all-too-familiar scene in a civil war that's lasted more than 10 years. Old, young, women, children, even man's best friend, all head for safety in Monrovia as rebel forces push towards the capital.
Many weary of the constant sounds of war.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, yeah, fighting, shooting, the sound, the launching, the firing, all.
KOINANGE: We continue towards the front, to the market square, normally a beehive of activity where traders and buyers alike come together. Today, a ghost town, where only a few daring government soldiers venture to go.
A few hundred yards away, the last checkpoint. Soldiers mill about, tired and war weary, from more than a month of fighting. Morale is low, as is the supply of ammunition.
We press on as a group of soldiers try to raise morale with song.
Eventually, we reach the bridge that is considered the gateway into Monrovia. The battle lines have shifted overnight, and only a few government soldiers are left. They urge us on.
(on camera): We are literally meters away from the front line. Rebel forces are about 100 yards across that bridge, and that is the key strategic (UNINTELLIGIBLE) bridge. Behind me, government forces heading that way slowly to see what they can do to engage the rebel forces. We can hear 82 and 81 mm mortar fire being fired consistently and we can also hear small arms fire all around us. It looks like the rebels are making their last push into the capital of Monrovia.
(voice-over): We decided it's not safe to go any further. We turned back.
CROWD: We want peace! We want peace! KOINANGE: On our way, thousands chanting for peace, after hearing reports peacekeepers from West Africa have landed.
In the middle, Liberia's defense minister, Daniel Chea, trying to play down their excitement.
DANIEL CHEA, MINISTER OF DEFENSE: I'm just trying to reason with them to get off the streets. We know that they have anticipated the arrival of everyone here, but if and when that happens, the government will officially inform them. There's no need for anybody to anticipate their coming by going to the streets, especially when we have mortar fire just barely two and a half miles down the road.
KOINANGE: Throughout the afternoon, intense fighting progressed into the urban areas of Monrovia. LURD (ph) rebels say they had no plans of attacking the capital. Those plans now seem to have clearly changed.
Jeff Koinange, CNN, Monrovia, Liberia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
