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CNN Live Saturday
LURD Troops and Liberian Government Troops Face Off
Aired August 09, 2003 - 18:31 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.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: In Liberia today, peacekeepers are trying to get rebels to open up a seaport so they can get food and medical supplies into the besieged city. And for the first time in this conflict, our Jeff Koinange has been able to cross into rebel territory. Here's his report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is what happens when a country turns against itself. Anarchy, disorder, mayhem.
This is the same bridge two days later. Government troops jealously guard their patch.
But even these battle-hardened veterans of 14 years of civil war are beginning to feel enough is enough.
"We are tired," says this government soldier. "We want to go back to school."
We decide to take our chances and drive across the bridge into LURD territory for the very first time in this conflict. We pass the last government checkpoint, then drive across this no man's land, and into rebel-held hands.
Surprisingly, we find numerous similarities between Taylor's troops and these rebel forces. From the ragtag looks to the ever- present wigs, to the psychedelic colors.
Child soldiers abound, the common symbol of this conflict.
But they insist their ideology is different from Taylor's. That's one of the reasons they want him out of the country sooner rather than later.
SEROD EOFANA, LURD: He must leave now. Not empty promises he's been making. You want to leave, he must leave now, not tomorrow. He must leave now, so that the Liberian people will get peace.
KOINANGE: But their method of fighting has lost them credibility among the Liberians. More than 1,000 are said to have died from a fierce three-week rebel onslaught.
Life in these mean streets has not been easy for residents like 62- year-old Richard Nyutnkon. RICHARD NYUTNKON, DISPLACED LIBERIAN: We want peacekeepers now to come and deploy in all the areas, because if (UNINTELLIGIBLE) should leave, more especially on the island (ph), we don't know what will happen.
KOINANGE: On this day, a U.S. military convoy is crossing the dividing line for the very first time. In it, Ambassador John Glaney (ph), leading the delegation of West African peacekeepers to meet the rebel leadership on the ground.
Heavily armed Marines accompany the ambassador as the convoy makes its way past the ruins of what was once one of Africa's most stable nations.
Guinean and Nigerian troops make up the vanguard of the African peacekeeping force, veterans of numerous civil wars on the continent.
Along the way, a familiar chant that's become the country's new battle cry. And further down the road, a morbid reminder of a senseless war in a seemingly senseless land.
They finally meet with LURD leadership. They are looking for access to Monrovia's strategic seaport.
They leave the meeting without the answer they're looking for, but they're all too aware peace has its price in this campaign.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Peace is worth a lot of sacrifices.
KOINANGE: Many war-weary Liberians here, including the country's army commander, echoed the feelings of a nation.
GEN. BENJAMIN YEATEN, LIBERIAN ARMY COMMANDER: We have received instructions that the war is over, so I can tell you that the war is over.
KOINANGE: Hopeful words, in a land where hope is in desperately short supply.
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 August 9, 2003 - 18:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: In Liberia today, peacekeepers are trying to get rebels to open up a seaport so they can get food and medical supplies into the besieged city. And for the first time in this conflict, our Jeff Koinange has been able to cross into rebel territory. Here's his report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is what happens when a country turns against itself. Anarchy, disorder, mayhem.
This is the same bridge two days later. Government troops jealously guard their patch.
But even these battle-hardened veterans of 14 years of civil war are beginning to feel enough is enough.
"We are tired," says this government soldier. "We want to go back to school."
We decide to take our chances and drive across the bridge into LURD territory for the very first time in this conflict. We pass the last government checkpoint, then drive across this no man's land, and into rebel-held hands.
Surprisingly, we find numerous similarities between Taylor's troops and these rebel forces. From the ragtag looks to the ever- present wigs, to the psychedelic colors.
Child soldiers abound, the common symbol of this conflict.
But they insist their ideology is different from Taylor's. That's one of the reasons they want him out of the country sooner rather than later.
SEROD EOFANA, LURD: He must leave now. Not empty promises he's been making. You want to leave, he must leave now, not tomorrow. He must leave now, so that the Liberian people will get peace.
KOINANGE: But their method of fighting has lost them credibility among the Liberians. More than 1,000 are said to have died from a fierce three-week rebel onslaught.
Life in these mean streets has not been easy for residents like 62- year-old Richard Nyutnkon. RICHARD NYUTNKON, DISPLACED LIBERIAN: We want peacekeepers now to come and deploy in all the areas, because if (UNINTELLIGIBLE) should leave, more especially on the island (ph), we don't know what will happen.
KOINANGE: On this day, a U.S. military convoy is crossing the dividing line for the very first time. In it, Ambassador John Glaney (ph), leading the delegation of West African peacekeepers to meet the rebel leadership on the ground.
Heavily armed Marines accompany the ambassador as the convoy makes its way past the ruins of what was once one of Africa's most stable nations.
Guinean and Nigerian troops make up the vanguard of the African peacekeeping force, veterans of numerous civil wars on the continent.
Along the way, a familiar chant that's become the country's new battle cry. And further down the road, a morbid reminder of a senseless war in a seemingly senseless land.
They finally meet with LURD leadership. They are looking for access to Monrovia's strategic seaport.
They leave the meeting without the answer they're looking for, but they're all too aware peace has its price in this campaign.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Peace is worth a lot of sacrifices.
KOINANGE: Many war-weary Liberians here, including the country's army commander, echoed the feelings of a nation.
GEN. BENJAMIN YEATEN, LIBERIAN ARMY COMMANDER: We have received instructions that the war is over, so I can tell you that the war is over.
KOINANGE: Hopeful words, in a land where hope is in desperately short supply.
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
