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CNN Live Sunday
Taylor Accepts Asylum in Nigeria
Aired July 06, 2003 - 18:00 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: Our in-depth look at the news begins with the possibility of U.S. forces going to Liberia. The decision has not yet been made, but this afternoon, we saw a key prerequisite. Liberian President Charles Taylor agreed to give up power and accept asylum in Nigeria. Jeff Koinange is in the Liberian capital of Monrovia and he joins us live -- Jeff.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN INTL. CORRESPONDENT: Kelli, those were words of many people, both inside and outside Liberia thought they'd never hear. President Charles Taylor actually accepting to go on temporary asylum in Nigeria.
The two presidents greeted each other a little after 3 o'clock this afternoon. They walked into the VIP section of the airport. They were there for less than two hours and came out and made those announcements.
President Obasanjo also came out and said whoever starts to harass Nigeria because he's taking President Taylor in, should be careful. He's not going to be taking harassment from anybody. Then the Nigerian president left and President Taylor was almost mobbed by the 2,000 or so crowd that was at the airport.
They were cheering; they were dancing. The band was playing. People were just reaching out to touch him. A lot of people still don't want him to leave. Many more cannot believe he's actually going to step down and leave.
But Kelli, it actually happened, and events are unfolding very rapidly on the ground.
ARENA: Jeff, there were not many details given about the arrangement that was worked out with Nigeria. Have you been able to unearth any details at all?
KOINANGE: Not yet, and when I asked the question about how soon President Taylor would leave, President Obasanjo turned to me and he said, he will leave and come to Nigeria at a time of his choosing.
President Taylor did, of course, set that one condition, saying peacekeepers have to be on the ground before he leaves. We understand, Kelli, that there is a JVT or a joint verification team in Rota, Spain right now, about 14, 15 military individuals and also the fast track team, the 40 to 50 U.S. Marines, Special Forces, who secure embassies around the world. Those two teams are going to leave Spain late tonight, arrive in a West African country sometime in the early morning; and then on to Monrovia soon after that.
So, we're expecting them here in the early hours of the morning. What they'll do is, the assessment team will come on the ground, see for themselves what needs to be done to hopefully send for more peacekeepers and humanitarian workers after that. Of course, the special fast-track team, they will secure the U.S. embassy just in case evacuation have to happen. So events unfolding very rapidly on the ground. If peacekeepers can come in the coming days, Kelli, President Taylor will depart then.
ARENA: All right, well, Jeff Koinange, thank you very much for that report.
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 6, 2003 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Our in-depth look at the news begins with the possibility of U.S. forces going to Liberia. The decision has not yet been made, but this afternoon, we saw a key prerequisite. Liberian President Charles Taylor agreed to give up power and accept asylum in Nigeria. Jeff Koinange is in the Liberian capital of Monrovia and he joins us live -- Jeff.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN INTL. CORRESPONDENT: Kelli, those were words of many people, both inside and outside Liberia thought they'd never hear. President Charles Taylor actually accepting to go on temporary asylum in Nigeria.
The two presidents greeted each other a little after 3 o'clock this afternoon. They walked into the VIP section of the airport. They were there for less than two hours and came out and made those announcements.
President Obasanjo also came out and said whoever starts to harass Nigeria because he's taking President Taylor in, should be careful. He's not going to be taking harassment from anybody. Then the Nigerian president left and President Taylor was almost mobbed by the 2,000 or so crowd that was at the airport.
They were cheering; they were dancing. The band was playing. People were just reaching out to touch him. A lot of people still don't want him to leave. Many more cannot believe he's actually going to step down and leave.
But Kelli, it actually happened, and events are unfolding very rapidly on the ground.
ARENA: Jeff, there were not many details given about the arrangement that was worked out with Nigeria. Have you been able to unearth any details at all?
KOINANGE: Not yet, and when I asked the question about how soon President Taylor would leave, President Obasanjo turned to me and he said, he will leave and come to Nigeria at a time of his choosing.
President Taylor did, of course, set that one condition, saying peacekeepers have to be on the ground before he leaves. We understand, Kelli, that there is a JVT or a joint verification team in Rota, Spain right now, about 14, 15 military individuals and also the fast track team, the 40 to 50 U.S. Marines, Special Forces, who secure embassies around the world. Those two teams are going to leave Spain late tonight, arrive in a West African country sometime in the early morning; and then on to Monrovia soon after that.
So, we're expecting them here in the early hours of the morning. What they'll do is, the assessment team will come on the ground, see for themselves what needs to be done to hopefully send for more peacekeepers and humanitarian workers after that. Of course, the special fast-track team, they will secure the U.S. embassy just in case evacuation have to happen. So events unfolding very rapidly on the ground. If peacekeepers can come in the coming days, Kelli, President Taylor will depart then.
ARENA: All right, well, Jeff Koinange, thank you very much for that report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
