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CNN Sunday Morning
Taylor Sets Date for Departure From Office
Aired August 03, 2003 - 09:06 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Pressure from the U.S., the U.N. and other West African countries has finally forced Liberian President Charles Taylor to set a date for his departure from office. With peacekeepers ready to arrive on Monday, Taylor chose August 11 as the day he will hand over power to his successor.
Jeff Koinange joins us now; he is on the phone from Monrovia, Liberia -- Jeff.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. And on this eve of the peacekeepers arriving, fighting still continues in certain parts of the capital. In fact, we were in a certain section called the Waterside section and it's like a battlefield there. Small arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades, rebels and government forces are still exchanging fire. Then we moved on to a section of the town called United Nations Drive.
But for the first time in two weeks, tens of thousands of Liberians literally coming out in the streets, looking for food, looking for water, looking for family members. They're literally out on the street. And we were asking them, what do they think of the peacekeepers arriving? And they said they welcome them. They are long overdue. They should have been here a long time ago. But since they are hours away, we can hardly wait for them.
I can tell you, Daryn, it's going to be a big party tomorrow once these peacekeepers arrive. These Liberians are really going to welcome them with open arms, because they've been suffering not just for the past few weeks, but the past decade and a half -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Jeff, let's talk about Charles Taylor. He says he's leaving office August 11, but doesn't necessarily say he's leaving the country.
KOINANGE: That's right. He did say -- Daryn, remember, that was the first time he's ever mentioned a date. Before it was world leaders like President Bush saying Charles Taylor has to go, or regional leaders setting a deadline three days after peacekeepers arrive.
But according to one local official, it's vintage Charles Taylor. He sets the agenda all the way to the very end. He set a date and a time. And we asked him further, when is he going to leave the country? He says I'll let you know when the time comes. So again, he wants to control this all the way to the very end. I guess that's the only card he has to play, controlling that agenda -- Daryn. KAGAN: He leaves office, who will be stepping in as his successor?
KOINANGE: Well, this coming Thursday, the 7, there will be a meeting of the entire National Legislature, and they'll pick his successor. It will either be the vice president or the Speaker of the House that's going to be decided this coming Thursday. And then four days later, Charles Taylor steps down as Liberia's 21 president, Daryn.
KAGAN: And you'll be tracking it for us from Monrovia. Jeff Koinange, thank you very much.
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 3, 2003 - 09:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Pressure from the U.S., the U.N. and other West African countries has finally forced Liberian President Charles Taylor to set a date for his departure from office. With peacekeepers ready to arrive on Monday, Taylor chose August 11 as the day he will hand over power to his successor.
Jeff Koinange joins us now; he is on the phone from Monrovia, Liberia -- Jeff.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. And on this eve of the peacekeepers arriving, fighting still continues in certain parts of the capital. In fact, we were in a certain section called the Waterside section and it's like a battlefield there. Small arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades, rebels and government forces are still exchanging fire. Then we moved on to a section of the town called United Nations Drive.
But for the first time in two weeks, tens of thousands of Liberians literally coming out in the streets, looking for food, looking for water, looking for family members. They're literally out on the street. And we were asking them, what do they think of the peacekeepers arriving? And they said they welcome them. They are long overdue. They should have been here a long time ago. But since they are hours away, we can hardly wait for them.
I can tell you, Daryn, it's going to be a big party tomorrow once these peacekeepers arrive. These Liberians are really going to welcome them with open arms, because they've been suffering not just for the past few weeks, but the past decade and a half -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Jeff, let's talk about Charles Taylor. He says he's leaving office August 11, but doesn't necessarily say he's leaving the country.
KOINANGE: That's right. He did say -- Daryn, remember, that was the first time he's ever mentioned a date. Before it was world leaders like President Bush saying Charles Taylor has to go, or regional leaders setting a deadline three days after peacekeepers arrive.
But according to one local official, it's vintage Charles Taylor. He sets the agenda all the way to the very end. He set a date and a time. And we asked him further, when is he going to leave the country? He says I'll let you know when the time comes. So again, he wants to control this all the way to the very end. I guess that's the only card he has to play, controlling that agenda -- Daryn. KAGAN: He leaves office, who will be stepping in as his successor?
KOINANGE: Well, this coming Thursday, the 7, there will be a meeting of the entire National Legislature, and they'll pick his successor. It will either be the vice president or the Speaker of the House that's going to be decided this coming Thursday. And then four days later, Charles Taylor steps down as Liberia's 21 president, Daryn.
KAGAN: And you'll be tracking it for us from Monrovia. Jeff Koinange, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
