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CNN Live Saturday
U.S. Marines Move Into Liberia
Aired August 16, 2003 - 18:44 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.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: One day after rebels in Liberia released their grip on Monrovia's port, tens of thousands of civilians are flooding into the capital city, seeking food, water and lost relatives. CNN's Jeff Koinange has more now from the heart of that war-torn country.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): We are standing at the entrance to the Gabriel Tucker Bridge in central Monrovia. Behind me, a scene that would have been unthinkable barely 48 hours ago. Tens of thousands of Liberians making their way across that bridge, into what was LURD territory. Right now, hundreds, thousands of them going across, looking for food, looking for water, looking for family members they haven't seen in past weeks and the past months. A lot of them are coming back with all the foodstuffs that they can carry. A lot of them haven't eaten in days, haven't eaten in weeks, haven't seen family members even longer.
We can tell you in terms of food distribution, the World Food Program on Saturday is distributing about 40 tons of foodstuffs to Liberians right here in the city. Aid workers are also making their way across this bridge. We've seen Red Cross vehicles going across there and other aid agencies.
Peacekeepers, West African peacekeepers are ready on the ground, patrolling this bridge, patrolling just about every block in the city, and the skies are being patrolled by U.S. Marines and helicopter gunships, from Hueys to Cobras to Blackhawks. On the peacekeeper front, the first batch of new peacekeepers, about 800 Nigerians expected in the coming days. The first 110 arrived a short while ago. They will boost the vanguard of troops right here on the ground.
We can also add that there's been a last-minute hitch in peace talks in (UNINTELLIGIBLE). LURD rebels, according to news on the ground, are once again shifting the goal post. It doesn't look like any feasible agreement will be signed this weekend. There's hope that as early as Monday, there may be some progress.
But the story is right now here, at the Gabriel Tucker Bridge, with tens of thousands of Liberians trying to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
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 16, 2003 - 18:44 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: One day after rebels in Liberia released their grip on Monrovia's port, tens of thousands of civilians are flooding into the capital city, seeking food, water and lost relatives. CNN's Jeff Koinange has more now from the heart of that war-torn country.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): We are standing at the entrance to the Gabriel Tucker Bridge in central Monrovia. Behind me, a scene that would have been unthinkable barely 48 hours ago. Tens of thousands of Liberians making their way across that bridge, into what was LURD territory. Right now, hundreds, thousands of them going across, looking for food, looking for water, looking for family members they haven't seen in past weeks and the past months. A lot of them are coming back with all the foodstuffs that they can carry. A lot of them haven't eaten in days, haven't eaten in weeks, haven't seen family members even longer.
We can tell you in terms of food distribution, the World Food Program on Saturday is distributing about 40 tons of foodstuffs to Liberians right here in the city. Aid workers are also making their way across this bridge. We've seen Red Cross vehicles going across there and other aid agencies.
Peacekeepers, West African peacekeepers are ready on the ground, patrolling this bridge, patrolling just about every block in the city, and the skies are being patrolled by U.S. Marines and helicopter gunships, from Hueys to Cobras to Blackhawks. On the peacekeeper front, the first batch of new peacekeepers, about 800 Nigerians expected in the coming days. The first 110 arrived a short while ago. They will boost the vanguard of troops right here on the ground.
We can also add that there's been a last-minute hitch in peace talks in (UNINTELLIGIBLE). LURD rebels, according to news on the ground, are once again shifting the goal post. It doesn't look like any feasible agreement will be signed this weekend. There's hope that as early as Monday, there may be some progress.
But the story is right now here, at the Gabriel Tucker Bridge, with tens of thousands of Liberians trying to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
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
